5/26/15

Yesterday, on an impromptu drive through southern Pennsylvania, I caught a three-song Dawes set the radio. One of these was "If I Wanted Someone," which is my favorite track on 2011's "Nothing is Wrong." But the first was "Things Happen," one of their newest singles that is very new to me, and sports a chorus that shattered like a china plate over my head.

"In a different time, on a different floor
I might mourn the loss of who I'm not anymore.
So I'm driving up to Oakland for a good look back,
And a few revisions to my plan of attack.
Let's make a list of all the things the world has put you through,
Let's raise a glass to all the people you're not speaking to
I don't know what else you wanted me to say to you
Things happen, that's all they ever do."
~Things Happen
Dawes, All Your Favorite Bands


I love the way they blend blues-folk feel with rock sensibilities, an Americana blend through and through. This track felt a little more classic than those on "Nothing is Wrong," at least vocally, as if they went back to draw more inspiration from 70s rootsy rock than the mellow-hipster contemporaries they found themselves on the radio among in recent years. I love the guitar line too, something very spacey-hippie about it. Whoever mixed this deserves some serious credit, because it sounds straight from the stage. Given I never got into Dawes' 2013 release I'm not sure what kind of evolution I missed, but if it wound up with the kind of raw layers and harmonies produced at the end of "Things Happen," then I'd say they are heading in the right direction. The album is now streaming in pre-release form on NPR, and I think I will listen for more - more ringing guitars, more honest-to-goodness honest folk, more feelings from the 10,000-foot perspective.

1/27/12

Fairly into this song lately, as well as the band.



Dawes has a Tom Petty, The Byrds like vibe that jives very well with having no idea what's going on in your life and the days are long and rainy.

I can't pinpoint what's groundbreaking about them, except they sound completely familiar and brand new all at once. Paced and measured verses, rhyme schemes and hooks that are satisfying to the core (see "Fire Away") and songs seem to wrap up with long guitar solos that are probably bangin' live.


"Maybe cause I come from such an empty-hearted town
or maybe cause some love of mine had really let me down
but the only time I am lonely is when others are around
I just never end up knowing what to say

if I wanted someone to clean me up, I'd find myself a maid
if I wanted someone to spend my money, I wouldn't need to get paid
if I wanted someone to understand me, I'd have so much more to say
I want you to make the days move easy"
~If I Wanted Someone
Dawes, Nothing is Wrong