Deer Tick - War Elephant
2007
>Alt-Country, Indie Rock

Young performers have a hard time making it in the hard-scrabble, boot-strappy world of alternative country because of the emphasis that the genres places on the quality of "authenticity."  One not only has to have an "authentic" sound, but to have an "authentic" lifestyle as well including, if possible, an impoverished upbringing in a rural setting, a long string of bad relationships, budding alcoholism or drug addiction and, of course, an unquenchable hatred of all things Nashville.  Whether or not lead singer John McCauley has been able to live up to these high standards of low living in his short 21 years on this earth remains debatable -- and ultimately beside the point.  The sound that he's managed to cobble together out of equal parts country and indie rock should be enough, regardless of the fact that he hails from Rhode Island.

The songs themselves don't reach back very far into the alt-country music tradition, eschewing the likes of Townes Van Zandt, and Steve Earle and drawing more from relative newcomers like Uncle Tupelo.  They are, however, firmly rooted in the punk / indie sound that was established in the early 90's as being what alt-country was ostensibly all about.  In fact, on many tracks, particularly "Baltimore Blues No. 1" and the rageful "Not So Dense," they betray a striking resemblance to indie bands such as Modest Mouse and Bright Eyes.

Nevertheless, there does remain something disingenuous about some of DT's songs, particularly the more ballad-like, and sorrowful arrangements.  At times they sound as if they're reaching for more psychological weight than their songs will reasonably bear, inviting detractors to label DT as "try-hards," or, indeed, "inauthentic."  Also, when McCauley's voice reaches into the higher registers it tends to get a bit nasal, which can be grating.

Overall, the War Elephant is a solid first effort by a group of musicians who are indeed young, inexperienced and yet eminently talented.

Samples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1pT1ZjAFXs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0kuoaSOAmQ