There’s a reason that singer/songwriter begins with “singer.†It’s the most important part of the package. Dylan, Neil Young have unique voices that can revive a song place it in their own specific style with the first vocal notes. John J. McCauley III has a particularly unique rough-edged voice that takes some time but pays off in dividends.
Now for the second and most important part of the longevity of singer/songwriters, the “songwriter†portion. McCauley showed much promise with his first two records. He developed into an all-out twangy affair on “Born on Flag Day†and this being twangville, I certainly enjoyed it. Not only did he push sideways into a 70s country-rock feel. The songs lived up to it.
In his latest effort, “the Black Dirt Sessions,†McCauley seems to be treading water a bit. His songs have retreated into more straight ahead rock territory and even into piano ballads. I find that listening to it is like seeing a friend with a new haircut that you just can’t help but think constantly about how much better it looked before. When I compare “Smith Hill†from “Flag Day†to even the best song from the new record “Twenty Miles.†It’s really hard to get too excited. It sounds like a slightly off style of the original.
Now McCauley’s voice is still intact. Rough and sandpapery and wonderful all at once. But even that, couldn’t salvage the plodding moments, the dragging tempo. Case in point: “Goodbye, Dear Friend.†This track is a slow piano ballad. It’s too simple and simply hard to get through. Even the rock tracks like “I Will Not Be Myself†are slow. That tune is complemented by the regular Deer Tick rough guitar sound.
McCauley and Deer Tick seem to be in retreat a bit. The album seems to be some kind of statement against the country-rock touches of “Born on Flag Day.†But it doesn’t push hard enough into any genre. It seems like it’s stuck in limbo. McCauley should make sure to play to his strengths and twang it up (at least for one song).
About the author: Jeff is a teacher in the Boston area. When not buried correcting papers, Jeff can be found plucking various stringed instruments and listening to all types of americana music.