Search - Dead Meadow :: Dead Meadow

Debut: potential greatness, limited studio budget?

John L Murphy | Los Angeles | 08/02/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I rank this a star lower than others have since on this debut, the instrumentation works, but the vocals are mixed too far below the music, and sound at their most poorly-recorded portions here like a pre-pubescent boy doing a R. Plant imitation. Not to be harsh, but this disc's best songs are heard to more mesmerizing effect on the "Got Live If You Want It" a couple of years later.



The DC trio here's working out its take on its influences. The comments here accurately sum up their music's elements, and if (as I do) you like Kyuss more than Queens of the Stone Age, DM is your band. Like Kyuss, they grow in confidence and vary their melodic and arranging abilities on albums to come after their debut, which like DM's I gather was taped for very little money. Not that this in itself is bad, given the Fugazi-connection that this and "Howls" had being issued on that band's spinoff label, but for music this intense, a thicker cushion of sound's needed than for Fugazi, who thrive on a dryer, more spare sonic stance.



This is now out-of-print (as is "Howls"). I spent a lot to get this debut, but only after I had heard their later records, and I recommend that potential fans listen to DM's more recent offerings first before hunting these two early artifacts. This is a solid disc, nonetheless, and stretches out wonderfully when it leaves behind the vocal passages to soar and roam."

So damn good

J. Rossi | Downers Grove, IL | 04/13/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"4.5 stars

So, yeah, the vocals are mixed below the music, which sounds like it was recorded in a foggy basement somewhere (which it basically was). Who cares? For one thing, the vocals are not meant to be the focal point, and for another thing, the somewhat muffled-sounding music works perfectly to convey the mystical ramblings of the lyrics and the drugged-out vibe of the tunes. The music itself may not be pristinely produced, but it works. And anyway, I can understand the vocals to Indian Bones just fine without the lyric sheet.



My ears loved Indian Bones from the moment the instrumental break commenced, spiraled to a Floyd/Zeppelin crescendo then slid back down to that grimy blues riff. Just marvelous. The same can be said for Lady, in which a marvelous two-note riff perfectly encapsulates the preceding lyrics "as failing night/gives way to glorious day/our eyes adjust/to the sun's bright rays," and Sleepy Silver Door.



Not every song hits with the same magnitude of the aforementioned triumverate, but the band clearly and adroitly plants the seeds that would bloom in full on Shivering King and Feathers. This album was also recently reissued, so no more paying the price gougers here, which is just another reason why you have no excuse for not owning this album."