Elvis Perkins In Dearland

'Elvis Perkins's new album, Elvis Perkins in Dearland is simply phenomenal. It is rare for a studio album to make you feel like you are standing right in the middle of the action, instead of an outside observer, but this album is extremely tangible. It is stripped down to the necessities and not overly produced, doctored, and manipulated.

Elvis Perkins has developed into a songwriter with striking range. He remains grounded in the most flowery of moments, and the contrast of darkness and beauty is really something to behold. Within a minute into the album he had me. The first track, 'Shampoo', begins with an acoustic guitar set within a jungle atmosphere. Slowly what sounds to be a didgeridoo and an organ chimes in before the drums crash signaling the official lift off. Perkins emphatically cries, “Sweep up, little sweeper boy...” and so I was in his pocket.

It was evident in his first release, Ash Wednesday, that Elvis Perkins had a gift for songwriting and storytelling. However, what is exposed in Elvis Perkins in Dearland is undeniable raw talent. And I use the word raw with best intentions, because without misting the landscape with unnecessary production, the audience is able to experience it for all that it is worth.' Katie Camosy- Zoom-in.com