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Review: Jack Foley
TEXAN duo, Deadman, describe their style of songwriting as 'Texas
music' that's light years removed from the honky-tonk stereotypes.
Indeed, their PR goes so far as to state that Our Eternal
Ghosts could be 'a sonic and thematic descendent of U2's
classic Joshua Tree'.
Yet it's nowehere near as good as U2's seminal work, despite
starting strongly.
Too much of the latter part of the album plods along and feels
too self-important (featuring gospel-tinged tracks such as Brother
and Absalom! Absalom!).
It's a shame, given the undeniable quality of early tracks such
as When The Music's Not Forgotten and the album highlight,
Won't Be Long.
The former is a heartfelt ode to some of the great musicians
who've died over the past few years, including June Carter Cash
and Johnny Cash (it was recorded on the day of his passing), and
features a quietly mesmerising vocal trade-off between Steve and
Sherilyn Collins.
Indeed, in some of the guitar riffs and aching male vocals, there
are traces of Joshua Tree U2 but they disappear the longer
the album continues.
Won't Be Long, meanwhile, is dripping with style - a
lonely piano setting things in motion, before yet more atmospheric
vocals take hold. It's an epic, emotive listen that really inspires.
Sadly, the album fails to realise such heights again.
Sad Ole Geronimo includes some nice guitar solos and
probably marks Deadman at their rockiest, but from then on in
it's a plodding affair that feels a little over-earnest.
A disappointment.
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