Here, on Deau Eyes' sophomore album, venture into indie D.J., country western, R&B places: These poetic pieces are each neatly begun and ended but without rhyme, but I think with the way the endings reflect the beginnings, the songs express a desire to be in control of the self -- a stoic thoughtfulness. Recording a decision: saying "no," to an open-ended journey, exploring memories through emotion that lead to that decision, and the transformation to lessons learned and wisdom. All of these experiences are alive at once in each song. I think Deau Eyes is very plugged into a world of pro-femininity, female-pop that takes some inspiration from R&B. And I have to say, I'm noticing the bedroom pop genre is alive and well here in Richmond, where yet another talented recording artist is hard at work in their... closet! Awesome! 2. Moscow in the Spring- From the artist's website, we have "a dreamy pop number haloed in the hazy glow of starry synths and tinkling sleigh bells." Meant to sound like "an Icelandic airport." Feminine, not as hard-rock enflamed as her previous release, with lots of digital soundscapes, softer revelations, immediately sounds breathy and alluring, like Purity Ring, but a with a little more Brandi Carlisle-folk, a little more richness to the melodies than dream pop, but at her vocal heights, she does surrender to the dazed elegance, the delicate dissolution of a lilting, expiring melody. Images of dreams, sudden transitions, and by looking at the album cover, I'm a little dazed as we flash from memory to memory without much guidance. Rhythms surge steadily like a calm seashore or what the world must look like from the eyes of a bird. "I won't drop my life to get on the first flight." With the decisive ending to this song we are reminded that through it all, as we can see by the cover, the artist's eyes are firmly focused on the future. 3. When- Tamber of vocals much deeper at first, I notice there is great range in the tone of Thibodeau's voice. The song is set to indie/ western soft bass/guitar on a loop. It's hard to place it in a genre because it is changing forms with rapidity. There's an open and close: when to someday, but in between the question and answer, the music follows a winding, unrestrained path. A snapshot, a moment. I think this album is about transformation, but you are the camera and what is changing is the way you see the world. 4. Haven't You Had Quite Enough- political - Sinking further into the western theme in the introduction of this song, there a pause on an audio segment, a serious exchange between two people, and after that, the song wakes up to a very free, vocal-driven track with an upbeat, bright and rich sound. Think Cheryl Crow adding bongos -- I hear birds and the jungle. 5. Make Some Time - Back to the textures of track 2, an R&B track from this artist! But with modern twists - like the boomp boomp i hear in AJR!s "Bang," or with the way her vocals, when she repeats her lines with breathy exhalations actually slip into the trance-like sounds you hear in the earlier songs. Connecting this to Dirty Projectors for the indie R&B blend and loving it! 7. Safer Love- Beachy, artificial into. I love this song because it's like through all the confusion, a refrain emerges that offers enough of a way to make sense of relationship trials, by naming something they both wanted more - that is enough, and that is the balm. R+B plus some rock decorations. While Deau Eyes doesn't embody the sass and boldness of my favorite, "Autonomy," yet on this album, there's sass and boldness in this blend of music. 8. Another One Comes Around - Just when I was missing the sass, here the traces of Western flair come out in a big way, when Thibodeau transforms her voice into the best of female pop country. And the music in the background is easy and basic, like they've been playing all night. Like they are taking Nashville. When, in reality, this sound comes from.. nowhere? And in it, there's the faintest edge of guitar distortion, or the faintest heavy-handedness to the repetition of one line that puts listeners in a trance again. These moments are like little burn marks on a very familiar recording - little glitter-ice singes. 9. ENDS - songwriter acoustic track, sincere and simple. Nice to hear! I like this song. 10. Legacies- Makes sense that the title track would come at the end, but its a very dramatic ending that doesn't feel resolved but rather brave, new and different. Independence and femininity combine in a voice here that pushes boundaries with musical expression. To borrow a phrase from RVA Mag writer and Gay RVA editor, Drew Necci, "we need this album right now," and why? Because it's self-assured, self-aware and unafraid! Creative in the wake of a challenge!
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AuthorWe are Kieran and Michelle, two 32-year-old William & Mary grads living in Virginia. Archives
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