It's the new CD where Dax says "GTFO Tess", whacks that bitch upside the head, and gets himself back on track. It keeps with the more simplistic rock song structures of latter-day deadboy, but not sounding like a half-assed White Stripes.
Writeup from the Fat Possum kingdom>>>>
On Hallows Eve 2006, in Houma, Louisiana, Dax hooked up with Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Johnny Cash, Superwolf, etc.), who would produce and play a lot of guitar on what would become We Sing Of Only Blood Or Love - but not just yet. Sweeney broke his hand just as those early November sessions at New Orleans' Piety Studios were to begin, resulting in a sad stretch of self-medicated producing with limited musical input. The two reconvened in January 2007 in New York, for a creative spurt spurred by Dax taking in a rehearsal of Sweeney's favorite band, Endless Boogie. Deeming it "a fucking religious experience," Dax promptly asked the band's drummer Endless Andy MacLeod (White Magic, Bright Black) to play on the record. Winter found Dax, Sweeney and Endless Andy on NYC's Lower East Side arranging, and then in Brooklyn recording a bunch of songs at The Rare Book Room with owner/operator Nicolas Vernhes.
At Nicolas's studio, Dax and crew would complete songs from Piety and material that Aaron Havill had recorded at Dax's home with the latter-day deadboy touring dudes: Alex Bergeron (bass), Adam Clement (drums), Sean Keating (keys) and Lucas Broussard (backing vocals) - as well as additional guitar from T.K. Webb, Dax's gal J.T. Van Zandt and his buddy Bozo Cyclops, piano and keys from Endless Andy's bro Robt. E. Lee, drums by Sweeney's Chavez cohort James Lo on three songs and more... Ultimately it became clear that the new material had taken on a life of its own, becoming the next evolutionary stage of Dax's career beyond the deadboy moniker. And a scant few months later, Dax would post on his myspace page:
"I want to let everyone know that for a variety of reasons I have decided to release my upcoming album We Sing of Only Blood or Love under my name: Dax Riggs.
"I want to thank everyone who supported deadboy & the Elephantmen, it was and will always be more than just a band, it's in my DNA."
That DNA runs deep through the rough hewn "Demon Tied To A Chair," "Didn't Know Yet" and "Radiation Blues," all of which will strike warm familiar notes with the deadboy contingent, though they may be a bit more on the muscular side. Those wading deeper in however are in for some pleasant surprises: Dax's vocals straining to more passionate extremes on "Terrors of Nightlife" and "Ouroboros," the ragtag assortment of musical misfits helping Dax bring some serious glam rave-up to "Living is Suicide" and "I Forgot I Was Alive," a complete curveball cover of Richard Thompson's "Wall Of Death," and, yes, a few more nods to the deadboy faithful in the form of "Scarlett Of Heaven Nor Hell" and "Dog-Headed Whore" before the album collapses upon itself, spent but still mustering the final throes of "dethbryte" (chopped and screwed by Andrew W.K.).
All told, We Sing Of Only Blood Or Love is Dax Riggs stepping out as a markedly grown up deadboy--a work imbued with newfound vitality, intensity and maturity, yet one that still begs anyone's best guess as to where things go from here. deadboy is undead, long live Dax Riggs. We hope.
Obligatory jewsendtits >>>>
Night is the Notion
Radiation Blues
Writeup from the Fat Possum kingdom>>>>
On Hallows Eve 2006, in Houma, Louisiana, Dax hooked up with Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Johnny Cash, Superwolf, etc.), who would produce and play a lot of guitar on what would become We Sing Of Only Blood Or Love - but not just yet. Sweeney broke his hand just as those early November sessions at New Orleans' Piety Studios were to begin, resulting in a sad stretch of self-medicated producing with limited musical input. The two reconvened in January 2007 in New York, for a creative spurt spurred by Dax taking in a rehearsal of Sweeney's favorite band, Endless Boogie. Deeming it "a fucking religious experience," Dax promptly asked the band's drummer Endless Andy MacLeod (White Magic, Bright Black) to play on the record. Winter found Dax, Sweeney and Endless Andy on NYC's Lower East Side arranging, and then in Brooklyn recording a bunch of songs at The Rare Book Room with owner/operator Nicolas Vernhes.
At Nicolas's studio, Dax and crew would complete songs from Piety and material that Aaron Havill had recorded at Dax's home with the latter-day deadboy touring dudes: Alex Bergeron (bass), Adam Clement (drums), Sean Keating (keys) and Lucas Broussard (backing vocals) - as well as additional guitar from T.K. Webb, Dax's gal J.T. Van Zandt and his buddy Bozo Cyclops, piano and keys from Endless Andy's bro Robt. E. Lee, drums by Sweeney's Chavez cohort James Lo on three songs and more... Ultimately it became clear that the new material had taken on a life of its own, becoming the next evolutionary stage of Dax's career beyond the deadboy moniker. And a scant few months later, Dax would post on his myspace page:
"I want to let everyone know that for a variety of reasons I have decided to release my upcoming album We Sing of Only Blood or Love under my name: Dax Riggs.
"I want to thank everyone who supported deadboy & the Elephantmen, it was and will always be more than just a band, it's in my DNA."
That DNA runs deep through the rough hewn "Demon Tied To A Chair," "Didn't Know Yet" and "Radiation Blues," all of which will strike warm familiar notes with the deadboy contingent, though they may be a bit more on the muscular side. Those wading deeper in however are in for some pleasant surprises: Dax's vocals straining to more passionate extremes on "Terrors of Nightlife" and "Ouroboros," the ragtag assortment of musical misfits helping Dax bring some serious glam rave-up to "Living is Suicide" and "I Forgot I Was Alive," a complete curveball cover of Richard Thompson's "Wall Of Death," and, yes, a few more nods to the deadboy faithful in the form of "Scarlett Of Heaven Nor Hell" and "Dog-Headed Whore" before the album collapses upon itself, spent but still mustering the final throes of "dethbryte" (chopped and screwed by Andrew W.K.).
All told, We Sing Of Only Blood Or Love is Dax Riggs stepping out as a markedly grown up deadboy--a work imbued with newfound vitality, intensity and maturity, yet one that still begs anyone's best guess as to where things go from here. deadboy is undead, long live Dax Riggs. We hope.
Obligatory jewsendtits >>>>
Night is the Notion
Radiation Blues
