Review: Dastardly's Bury Me in the Country
At first glance, there are obvious characteristics of a record called Bury Me in the Country. Anyone with an ounce of experience (or common sense, for that matter) listening to music could understand what this record might sound like. That means I'm ultimately judging the book by it's cover, right? Well, with Dastardly's new record, all of those assumptions might be correct, which doesn't necessarily mean that listening to this album will be something that you regret because you've heard records with a similar identity. The name of a record ultimately gives it an identity — and what the band has done here is craft a downright rugged and rootsy folk album. What's wrong with that?
Part of what I mean by "rootsy folk" is the fact that no more than ten minutes pass and there's already a "yodelayhee" chant, dueling banjos and banging foot-stomping rhythms. These things don't stereotype the album into being a bland alt-country album, but they certainly give the listener some type of context into understanding the picture Dastardly has painted here. Just by looking at the names of the tracks you can paint the picture for yourself.
While I was listening to the record I read the liner notes, which said, "We recorded this record mostly live in a wood panel laundry room with a large bottle of bourbon. It got pretty rowdy. Our engineer doesn’t remember the last half of the session." Even if I hadn't read those few sentences, I would've known that those things bleed into the songs that they put onto tape here. "Freight Train" reminds us that even if the deck is stacked against us, there's always a cure to those ailments. Soaking up the good in life and keeping the mind focused on what is important allows most of us to stay on track.
These songs exemplify rootsy rock in great form throughout. There are only five, so it's difficult to stray far away if you're going to have a central theme and make it make sense. Singing about whiskey, love, broken morals, pissing people off, and more whiskey, Dastardly craft a more improved version of their debut May You Never... with more emphasis on upbeat sing-a-longs that get even the bartender excited, even though booze is spilling all over his bar.
There's a lot of character within these tracks, and most of it involves Dastardly being a really fun band to listen to. It would've been easy to say this was a fusion of The Avett Brothers and Delta Spirit, but Bury Me in the Country entices all types of tastebuds, and whichever ones they hit it seems to taste good — and boy does it go down strong.
Dastardly's "Fever" video
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Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
That article almost looks like something out of The Onion
Thanks! I’m looking forward to writing even more….
Yay! Love this! Welcome to the family!
that last photo’s a doozie, Chris. good work.
that city center house show was one of those life-affirming things.
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“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.
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represent, Matt.