Not bad, not folk-ing bad at all
- Fear Not, Distant Lover
- "So I guess I just started to believe that you get what you give, you can do anything, if you fucking work hard enough, and this has been something I've always wanted to be able to do and I finally realized it was going to take some serious dedication at the end of the summer." Looks like the dedication paid off.
- Peasant on Myspace
- Buy "Fear Not, Distant Lover"
Already featured once here on Crap Filter (“DIY ethic and beautiful music”), Damien DeRose, aka Peasant, has officially released his follow up to his June 2005 debut, “Sow and Scatter”. Only six months later, this release marks a much more mature Peasant, who seems very comfortable in his folk-drenched singer/songwriter style.
When I asked Damien about the inspiration of this CD, he said:
I came back from tour and I wanted to write and record an album that reflected my live show. I wanted to work on my strengths and this album came from letting go of what I WANTED my music to be, and channeling the music that I was capable of making the whole time.
The 16-track album starts off with a song that Damien considers his best recording of all time (according to Damien, he has recorded over 100 songs since the age of 15 or 16), ” All the Times”, a pretty song that reminds me of another Philadelphia area singer/songwriter, Denison Witmer. The CD quickly breaks into the second track, “Sun, Moon, Sing, a folky tune that plays like a 1960’s protest song, and perhaps it’s message is along similar lines as Peasant sings, “Just put away the guns, and walk away.” From there, each track flows into the next, creating a solid folk-pop album.
The CD flows so well, and will definitely be a new favorite for anyone that likes artists like Bright Eyes, Bruce Springsteen, and Sufjan Stevens (I know, a diverse list, but trust me). At first listen, comparisons can be drawn to many contemporary singer/songwriters like Sufjan or Denison. As discussed in the article about Peasant’s DIY ethic, he has that same drive and feeling as Bright Eyes (an though I had written that I was unsure about Damien starting to play and record music as the same tender age as Connor Oberst did, Damien confirmed that he’s been playing since age 8 and recording since age 15). And though he certainly draws from the current singer/songwriters and rock acts, I really feel like he appreciates singer/songwriter greats like Springsteen and Dylan. Many influences could be cited besides these: I can hear a Beatles-influenced sound in several songs, Jack White-esque whiteboy blues vocals here or there, and the storyteller vibe of James Taylor. None of these influences can sum up Peasant’s sound, however. Whereas many of the same influences can be heard in his previous release, here it doesn’t sound like he is emulating anyone but rather just drawing on his heroes and contemporaries.
So I guess I just started to believe that you get what you give, you can do anything, if you fucking work hard enough, and this has been something I’ve always wanted to be able to do and I finally realized it was going to take some serious dedication at the end of the summer… I came home and I was like man, my first album sucks for what I want to do, but you don’t give up you fucking learn from it… that and listening to “The White Album” and “Rubber Soul” about 20 times while i drove through the desert really helped me figure out where to go.
Well, in this reviewer’s humble opinion, Damien found his musical niche, Peasant has realized it’s potential and is bound to keep going up from here. I was unsure about what seemed like some misplaced drums in the seventh track, “One Whole Year”, but since the following song happens to be my favorite on the album, “Sipping Furious”, I’ll let that one slide. All in all, a very solid self-release (had I known that “That Works Records” was not a label, but only a faux-label he released his own albums on, I’d have included Peasant in “Someone sign these guys”) from a young musician that knows where he wants to go but is allowing himself to be patient in getting there.
December 12th, 2005 at 10:06 pm
Nice review. I’ll keep this guy on my radar for sure, definitely since I’ve been digging on Sufjan Stevens more and more.
December 13th, 2005 at 7:13 am
i don’t know where you are from, vin, but let me know and i’ll keep you posted about when he’s in town. i’ll be seeing him friday in philly, i think.