E-mail
Print
A breath of fresh air
‘Herald the Dickens’ sidesteps elitist and just rocks
By Zachary Hoeppner
All too often, magnificent bands become lost in translation, floating around in a soup of creative mud. Compared to the death of two young lovers surrounded by the mutual hate of their respective families, this may be the real tragedy of our time.
True to its name, Milwaukee’s The Celebrated Workingman consists of Atomic Records music guru, vocalist Mark Waldoch, surrounded by an equally talented bunch, including drummer extraordinaire Justin Krol, of Freshwater Collins.
With the release of this year’s “Herald the Dickens,” the band seems to toss caution to the wind, creating a sort of elitist, alien-type-progressive sound they just straight up rock until the well-endowed lady sings.
Opening the album in a fitting and celebratory manner is the curiously titled, “We’re Numb,” setting a tone of melodic rock that sustains the entirety of the album.
“Love Is Getting Your Way” kicks the door wide open with a steady groove coupled with a straightforward rock ‘n’ roll mood that will no doubt pick the listener off the couch and have them dancing in time to the lively tune.
On “Bed Fresh Tired,” the entire company seems to perfect a restless and melodic brand of tongue and cheek pop.
Certainly, this work would not seem complete without the slide guitar wailage on “Count The Crosses, Count The Safe.”
“Herald the Dickens” often challenges its audience to credit both the forefathers of American roots and traditional rock.
During “Island,” a choir of resounding voices echo behind Waldoch’s guttural lyrical plea while “Plans” holds fast to a consistent groove, breaking loose in a frenzy of colorful lead guitar lines and punching rhythms.
Continuing with “Hate & Apologies,” the eve of the album’s conclusion, Mark Waldoch’s voice springs to life as a torrent of sound rushes forward suggesting a man nearing the brink of insanity.
The final track, “Opening Night,” presents one last hurrah of weeping instrumentation and lyrical angst, sans the previous gnashing of teeth.
All too often, the ambitions magnificent bands are lost in the translation from concept to recording, instead becoming muddled in a soup of creative mud, a comparatively modern tragedy.
“Herald the Dickens” is an album with an ample supply of minimal, yet layered grooves, where the raw vocal stylings of Waldoch and the twang of lustrous guitars abound.
Hear ye, my fellow musical compatriots, The Celebrated Workingman seem destined to not simply fall into the margins of musical history.
> Comments