It's got to be difficult, being the lead vocalist of a band that's repeatedly being told that its lead vocalist is one of the most defining characteristic of the band's sound. Especially if you ever had the inkling to release a solo record. The expectations for it would be overwhelming - if, in many listeners' minds, your voice is what "makes the band," what could you ever do as an artist to separate your solo work from the band's? Not to mention, you'd run the risk of really exposing yourself as a songwriter - an avid listener, by comparison of your solo record versus the band's records, could deduce exactly which songwriting elements the vocalist brings to the table, and which ones come from the rest of the guys in the band.
These are the kinds of challenges faced by Wesley Blaylock, vocalist for indie-pop outfit Deas Vail, as he recently released his first solo EP. Deas Vail does indeed have a decidedly distinct sound, and Wes's vocal styling is certainly one of the most important factors in separating the band's sound from lots of others. The question, then, is whether or not Blaylock's EP is an important enough work to stand on its own, without just seeming like a Deas Vail B-sides record.
The record opens with "Asleep at the Wheel," a 6/8 acoustic ballad that is reminiscent of the very oldest of Deas Vail tunes - brought up to date by the maturity that comes with 7 years of strenuous writing, recording and touring. Stripped way down from what we've come to expect from a DV opening track, "Asleep at the Wheel" is more musically focused than anything we've heard from Blaylock in a long time, whether that's your thing or not.
One of the characteristics that separates this project from a DV record is the presence of musical influence. While Deas Vail makes apparent the fact that they strive to stay as innovative and original as possible, Blaylock as a solo artist reveals that he, like so many of us, actually does listen to other music and lets it influence his own writing.
He doesn't by any means cross the lines of plagiarism, it's just that the presence of musical influence gives us all a little bit clearer, more intimate picture of the real musical world of Wesley Blaylock. For instance, the second and fifth tracks off of this record ("Burns the World to Gold" and "Sway") feature acoustic finger picking patterns and electric guitar swells that conjure memories of (one of my favorite bands of all time and once touring partners with DV) The New Frontiers. If you've ever wondered what kind of artists have impacted a guy like Wes Blaylock, it might be worth giving his solo record a spin just to see what you can pick out.
After, "Burns the World to Gold" comes the duets. On the harmony-rich "Falling into You," Wesley shares the limelight with fellow DV-er (and wife) Laura Blaylock. The tempo variations and melodic flourishes certainly keep the tune interesting, switching from double to half-time, with a snare drum tuned low enough to invoke mental images of a burlap sack full of silver dollars being shaken in time.
The fourth track, "Finally the Truth," may be the highlight of the record, if not at least the track that most separates this record from a Deas Vail one. The song is a duet with Eden's Edge vocalist and Wesley's sister Hannah Blaylock. Hannah's background in American country music makes a strong case for this record's decidedly different direction than any of Deas Vail's previous material. Despite my initial skepticism, this turned out to be my favorite cut from the record, with Wesley adding the very slightest of twangs to his voice to accomodate Hannah's.
The final track, "Sway," brings the short record full-circle, coming back around to the mellow, near-lullaby qualities of "Asleep at the Wheel." The track finishes off with a distant, lightly distorted vocal harmony, suggestive of a train whistle scuttling off into the sunset.
Wesley Blaylock's solo EP is certainly not going to please every single Deas Vail fan. The fans who fell in love with DV's sugary-sweet pop hooks and larger-than-life production probably won't fully embrace something this bare-bones. But for fans who have always loved Deas Vail's pure musicality and maybe needed to be reminded of Blaylock's solid songwriting integrity, I can't imagine something better than this EP.
-JR
download the EP here
get Deas Vail's latest record here
learn more about Hannah Blaylock and Eden's Edge here
