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There is no denying the fact that this kid has a huge amount of raw talent. This is actually exactly the kind of music that I love, referencing back to the 60’s – he is definitely appropriating a classic sound with out imitating to a “T”.
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There is no denying the fact that this kid has a huge amount of raw talent. This is actually exactly the kind of music that I love, referencing back to the 60’s – he is definitely appropriating a classic sound with out imitating to a “T”.
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Dan Sartain – Dan Sartain vs. the Serpientes
(Swaimi Records/Bertus)
Dan Sartain is a 21-year-old Birmingham Alabamian garage rocker. For his debut recording, he generously gives us Dan Sartain vs the Serpientes. The album kicks off with Tryin To Say a number encompassing rock, blues, ska freak-out, and made complete with baritone sax. P.C.B. 98 (aka Panama City Beach USA), is a little ditty about trashy college spring break in the US. I Could Have Had You is a classic and is hardly believable that it’s actually contemporary, it sounds as if it was recorded in the late 60’s. This is particularly due to the production choices made, most likely financial, but also artistic vision in attempt to recreate a sound from the past. Fact is, it was recorded in Dan Sartain’s garage, but that is part of its absolute charm.
Next up come the series of Cobra songs. Walk Among The Cobras Pt. 1, with fuzzy blues guitars and lyrics, feels as if I should be in a James Dean movie or something. Walk Among The Cobras Pt. 2 sounds a bit like 70’s British rock, like The Motors or early Bowie. And Walk Among the Cobras Pt. 3 is just fantastic and has a funny keyboard line that reminds of what decades this music is actually coming from. In a Place To Call My Home, you can clearly hear the influence of Johnny Cash. Leeches Pt.1 is totally strange, but I love it. Auto Pilot has xylophones (wooden) and the lyrics, “I put my body into auto pilot, I leave you behind” are repeated several times sweetly.
Romance is super fuzzy and sounds like old New Orleans big band blues recorded in the 40’s or something. The album ends with Got That Feeling, at the end of the song a trumpet stumbles though a solo, almost drunken. It’s marvelous… truly.
Dan Sartain has voice with character – a cross between Joe Strummer and Harry Connick, Jr, though musically it’s closer to the dirty blues of Jon Spencer. Lyrically this recording is nothing to freak out over, however, it is the music which is the clear winner here. It has classic textures that are familiar yet fresh and you can really hear that much fun was had during the making of this album. There is no denying the fact that this kid has a huge amount of raw talent. This is actually exactly the kind of music that I love, referencing back to the 60’s – he is definitely appropriating a classic sound with out imitating to a “T”. If you like garage rock and the music of the 60’s, 70’s, more recently stuff like Jon Spencer or The White Stripes, you’ll appreciate Dan Sartain. Check it out!
Words Zoe E. Gottehrer
Rating: 8.5 out of 10