Brian Michael Roff & the Deer
"Inventory" CD
KEEP Recordings
Genre: folk-rock, Americana
KEEP Recordings
PO Box 18972
T0B1A0
April 2006 |
These days we have seen a large scale attention shift towards folk and
Americana music, pioneered by the success of bands like Okkervil
River, Beth Orton, and Death Vessel. But behind the
major names lies a vast and varied scene filled with countless
strummers and storytellers. One such artist is Brian Michael Roff,
who has put out a number of strong records both on his own and with
his Deer. Inventory is his much anticipated second album
for KEEP Recordings, an absolutely incredible DIY label from Tucson,
Arizona.
Roff makes Inventory's tone clear right from the
start with "I Would Work If I Could," an infectious little bumper
detailing the frustration of the working man. This is folky Americana,
composed of friendly narratives and warm melodies. It can become a
little bland at times - such as on "For Pledges" - but the glut of
strong songs makes up for any discrepancy. "Winter Will" is a
bittersweet, longing piece of nostalgia designed to bring out your
emotional side. "Unfantastic Few," meanwhile, is a heartfelt beauty
with the serious viola lending it a sense of urgency. The nearly seven
minute "I Fell At The Opera" could be considered the album's
centrepiece, and rightfully so. There is very little to complain about on this strong set
of songs, which marks another step towards glory for Brian Michael
Roff. We can only hope he continues to put out albums like this
for years to come - and gets the recognition he deserves.
MP3 (from keeprecordings.com):
I Fell at the
Opera
84%
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 9 tracks, distributed by
the label, released 2005] |