A.A. Bondy - When the Devil's Loose
Rating
RIYL
Mason JenningsThe Felice Brothers
J Tillman
The Low Anthem
Release Date
09/01/2009
Label
Fat PossumTracklist
1. Mightiest of Guns2. A Slow Parade
3. When the Devil’s Loose
4. To the Morning
5. Oh the Vampyre
6. I Can See the Pines are Dancing
7. False River
8. On the Moon
9. The Mercy Wheel
10. The Coal Hits the Fire
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There’s something very dark and ominous about the latest release from A.A. Bondy, and it’s not just the title. A.A. Bondy’s sophomore release is harrowingly titled When the Devil’s Loose, and it certainly matches the mood of the album; a strikingly brooding folk album that still finds beauty in dimly lit corners.
While some of the album was recorded in the middle of winter, the rest was recorded in warmer weather in Mississippi. Despite the warm climate, the album still has the sometimes soft bitterness that the cold can bring. His low resonating voice blankets the disc along with the stripped down instrumentation. Mostly being known for just playing an acoustic guitar and a harmonica, A.A. Bondy is accompanied by a full band on most songs, providing a few more dynamics to his standard formula.
“A Slow Parade” brings it all in with an electric guitar accompanied by a piano. It trots along, building to a fiery end as a solo bursts through while Bondy sings, “Marching in a slow parade / there are ashes where you lay / sometimes I don’t mind at all / sometimes head against the wall.” Following a more somber theme, “False River” is a proclamation, and as the tension builds he warns, “There’s a twisting in your senses / there’s a river in your blood / and the crows land on the fences / there’s a daughter in the flood / can you see? / do you know? / leavin’ with ease on the darkest breeze / tonight’s the night.” Bondy has a way with words, as his descriptions draw up the menacing figures his songs are about. He does this by backing the lyrics with some tasteful lighthearted sounds.
Bondy depicts hell on earth in the foot-tapping title track. The guitar has a more upbeat quality, almost completely contrasting the lyrics. Phrases like, “A figure waits in the shadow / someone drowned in the lake / the march of the Georgian feet down the highway and razor blades in the gate,” are shocking in comparison to the care-free melody the song produces.
In a bit of a twist, Bondy decides to tell the tale of a mortal transforming through the sounds of a short but sweet country tune titled “Oh the Vampyre”. He shows off his clever character with a very catchy chorus that goes, “Lord what I would give / for just one drop of red / now the dew is on the grass / and I am late for bed.” Just him and a guitar, the intimacy of the track makes it a standout on the album.
While most of the songs have a sinister trait, there is at least one song that will put a smile on your face. The pop drenched and groovy “I Can See the Pines are Dancing” is a free-spirited love song that will have most listeners shuffling around the room. Other songs, however, contain a more bluesy style, such as “To the Morning” and the folk/blues fused “The Mercy Wheel.”
Many may not know exactly who Bondy is, but When the Devil’s Loose is certainly a good place to become familiar with the former member of the grunge rock band Verbena. During these cold months (for those experiencing this harsh winter), this album will sync up perfectly with the temperature. He is an artist where his words, not just his music, carry a lot of strength.
--Andrew Beam
Comments
Anytown USA
I loved Verbana, So far his solo stuff hasn't resonated with me, but I can definitely see the potential. I want to listen to this one.
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