By Kevin Koeninger & Susanna Conway
Not a bad ‘Dream’
Much like the alter ego he creates in his song “Ninja of Love,” Keller Williams has a way of creeping up on your subconscious long after the first listen. By blending acoustic and electric guitars with innovative bass and percussion styles, Williams creates an alluring sound that can only be described as pure funk.
Nevertheless, portions of the album could have been yanked straight out of any number of arena rock band’s greatest hits albums. Not a bad thing by any means, these “transplanted” bits of music help to diversify Williams’ music in general.
The album does have a number of setbacks, however, the most glaring of which is the repetitive nature of most of the tracks. Most of the songs seem predictable, with an inordinate number of high-speed strums and trills, accentuated by altogether conventional harmonics.
This criticism leads directly into another, and that is the fact that the album is just far too lengthy. Songs drag on for five, six, even seven minutes, and with sixteen tracks, it’s all you can do not to take a break while listening. Granted, there is nothing inherently wrong with a long track; it’s only when you begin to feel as though the song should have ended minutes ago that problems arise.
The shabby and rather shallow lyrics are also another point of contention. While not the worst in recent memory, those generated by Keller Williams fall short in that they never really attempt to say anything of importance.
Musically, the album is a skillfully executed change of pace from the all-too-familiar rock scene; as a whole, however, it fails to achieve anything but mediocrity.
– Kevin Koeninger
National Lights still in the dark
The National Lights uses calm folk music to offset their American gothic literature and ’80s slasher films-inspired lyrics in their new album “The Dead Will Walk, Dear,” set for release on Feb. 27.
Songwriter Jacob Thomas Berns tells an album-wide tale documenting the passions, trials and regrets of a Midwestern murder. The lyrics contrast to the gentle harmonic melodies and soft use of acoustic and lap-steel guitars, pianos, banjos and mandolins.
“Better For It, Kid” has dark acoustic guitar work, and the vocalist reveals his feelings during the afterglow of love. You can hear the sentiment in his voice as he exclaims, “Let me cover you up in my button flannel shirt…Don’t make me say I’m sorry cuz in my heart I meant no harm.”
“Mess Around” has a totally different theme in its lyrics. This song is about infidelity and has impetuous acoustic guitar, making a more hurried track. It talks about a female and how the vocalist is sure she is being faithful.
The title track has deep rhythmic guitar chords and a keyboard underscore that brings in a darker tone that doesn’t appear in the other tracks.
It portrays murky imagery and it hints about a one-night stand, with lines like, “I’m not your answer I was needed your body…That got me to thinkin’ nobody goes home.”
“The Dead Will Walk, Dear” would be an interesting album to listen to if visiting your own drug-induced fairyland. Otherwise, I do not recommend National Lights.
– Susanna Conway
