Elvis Perkins returns after a 2 year hiatus with his second full length- In Dearland. Perkins first LP, Ash Wednesday, was an incredible first effort. Songs such as All the Night Without Love, While You Were Sleeping, and Emile's Vietnam in the Sky, showed Perkins' to be a classy and imaginative craftsman capable of writing circles around many of his esteemed and established colleague. In many ways, In Dearland starts where Ash Wednesday leaves off, building from a foundation of earthy guitars, strings, deep drums, and swirling lyrics. What's different this time is that Perkins' vocals seem much more ambitious, moving outside of his previously restrained range, and experimenting with rich, loose, dipping and diving notes that dance with the lyrics rather than watch them from the bleachers. This is especially apparent on the single Shampoo as well as Hours Last Stand, and I Heard Your Voice in Dresden. The song I was both most surprised and pleased with was I'll Be Arriving, a song driven by a 60's soul organ, a relentless metallic jangle, and a woozy trumpet: a very Tom Waits-like venture, with an intense yet sloppy demeanor that screams purgatory, or maybe just Detroit.
One unfortunate likeness between In Dearland and Ash Wednesday is that they are both very top heavy records, with the quality tunes arriving more towards the beginning and middle, and fading out with subtle tracks that are ok, but not necessarily screaming to be listened to. Overall, In Dearland is certainly worth a listen, if not many.
Check out Elvis' MySpace to hear some of the tracks.
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