Deas Vail - Birds & Cages

Producer:  Mark Lee Townsend
Record Label:  Mono Vs Stereo/Gotee Records
Website:  http://www.deasvail.com

Deas Vail has been a band on the fringe of really breaking out into the mainstream of Christian rock for a while now.  Their last release - All the Houses Look the Same spawned off a couple of mild rock hits - but nothing that really took the band over their edge.  Their brand of art-inspired-by-Christ as opposed to straight ahead Christian rock made them a perfect fit for Gotee Records’ more mainstream friendly Mono Vs. Stereo Records (see Relient K, House of Heroes, and Maylene & the Sons of Disaster).  Birds & Cages is their first release for the upcoming label.  Musically, Birds & Cages is an inspiring indie-rock record with beautiful arrangements, eloquent accompaniments, and exquisitely strong songwriting.  With the opening measures of “The Things You Were,” the listener is immediately taken in by Wes Baylock’s engaging vocals and stellar falsetto work.  Baylock’s ear for engaging melodies continues on highlight tracks like “Birds,” “Cages,” and first radio single “Excuses.”  If you’re looking for a musical comparison - Deas Vail falls somewhere in between the more artistic moments of Future of Forestry and commercial moments of Copeland with shades of Cool Hand Luke thrown in for good measure.  Lyrically, like most bands that don’t call themselves Christians but are still full of them - the band straddles the line between the obvious and more obscure.  “The Things You Were” speaks of starting a new life, while “The Leaper” speaks of taking the chance on something bigger than you’re able to handle.  Overall, Deas Vail’s sweeping arrangements and inspiring melodies really elevate the band beyond just some artsy indie rock band.  Art is the main focus here, and they’ve managed to show it in spades on Birds & Cages.  This is an album not to be missed by serious fans of music - those expecting more out of bands than the typical radio single and cliched lyrics. Bravo, Deas Vail.  Bravo.

Track listing: 

1.  The Things You Were
2.  Growing Pains
3.  Excuses
4.  Cages
5.  Birds
6.  Tell Me
7.  Dance In Perfect Time
8.  Sunlight
9.  Puzzles & Pieces
10.  The Great Physician
11.  The Leaper
12.  Atlantis