Shovels & Rope- Something Is Working Above My Head
Label: Dualtone
Producer: Michael Trent
Shovels & Rope, the husband-wife duo of Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, have spent the last dozen years reigning as one of the unmitigated highlights of the Americana music scene. The combination of their rustic harmonies, eye-popping narratives, ramshackle folk sound, and underlying rock & roll spirit emerged as one of the freshest and most authentic sounds amidst a sea of fresh and authentic sounds that gave rise to the prominent 2010s roots music movement. There’s always been a fierce rock underbelly simmering under the surface of their preceding nine albums, but on Something Is Working Above My Head, that element is ferociously pushed to the forefront. The production and sonic identity of the record leans aggressively into a loose, live energy punctuated by fuzzy garage-rock riffs, meandering jam sessions, and vocal performances that easily rank among their most ravenously raw, which is a statement in itself. It feels more like a natural progression branched off from their core roots, rather than an abrupt lane change, but it’s not one they necessarily rush into either. On the opening title track, it all just pulsates under a surface of trembling piano and anxious, sweaty vocals; it keeps the listener in suspense and puts them on notice that this is a record requiring a full-fledged investment. This mysterious, anticipatory seduction eventually erupts on moments like the muddy, murderous themes of “Colorado River”, the tempestuous good vs. evil combat of the haunting rockabilly number, “Two Wolves”, and the bitterly foreboding and cinematic “Salt Tooth”. Admittedly, as tantalizing as much of this rock-tinged deep dive may be, one can’t help but feel like the vivid storytelling and vibrant narrative imagery that have been so central to the duo’s artistic core winds up being a bit of collateral damage on this project. The album only seems to really take flight to past heights on moments where they invite the folk element of their hybrid sound back in, moments like the raggedly beautiful “I’d Be Lying”, the delightful “Double Lines”, or the dramatic and slightly gospel-tinged finale, “Dass Hymn”. Ultimately though, the defining moment of the record proves to be the Gregory Alan Isakov collaboration, “Love Song From A Dog”, which is precisely what the title says it is, a beautifully charmed declaration of love and companionship as expressed from man’s best friend to his owner. Be forewarned: if you’re anything close to an animal lover, be prepared for this track to sneak up on you fast. It so poignantly captures the unconditional love and spirit of the friendship between the two species; I was literally smiling through my tears on the first listen, and the whimsical howling at the track’s conclusion only makes it all the more endearing. It’s easily a new favorite of mine from the S&R canon, but to say that it arrived on the most unexpected album is an understatement. The fact that the standout moment on the duo’s first full-fledged rock outing was a sentimental dog song will certainly cast the album as a failure in the minds of many, but it’s more of a testament to the emotional power of the song itself in comparison to the rest of the material. And that material is nevertheless solid, if not undeniably uneven. Something Is Working Above My Head may indeed feel unfocused and unfinished, and consequently it won’t reside amongst Shovels & Rope’s definitive LPs, but it’s certainly not bad. It feels more like one of those misunderstood, less-talked about albums that any band acquires at least once in their catalog if they record long enough. Many times, those prove to be some of the most fascinating discoveries for deep-diving musical curators to enjoy in retrospect, and that’s a destiny that seems likely for the ninth effort from Shovels & Rope.
Track Listing:
- “Something Is Working” (Michael Trent, Cary Ann Hearst)
- Piranhanana (Trent, Hearst)
- “I’d Be Lying” (Trent, Hearst)
- “Colorado River” (Trent, Hearst)
- “Two Wolves” (Trent, Hearst)
- “Te Amo” (Trent, Hearst)
- “Love Song From A Dog” featuring Gregory Alan Isakov (Trent, Hearst)
- “Double Lines” (Trent, Hearst)
- “Salt Tooth” (Trent, Hearst)
- “Dass Hymn” (Trent, Hearst)
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