This album starts out with “Intro”, and I would usually say that this is a little out there and doesn’t really add much. But as simple as an opening as this is, I do think this sets the very majestic tone for this album. But then “Blue Rose” washes its way in and things get really pleasant and beautiful really quickly. I love the hazy production and that very meditative sound that Damon has been working with. There’s even a little bit of funk almost in these instrumentals, but that’s all besides the point. I personally have never heard Damon this far out of his shell, and it’s beautiful. In a time where so many voices are started to blue together in Rock music, he really sticks out with his soulful howl. It’s still a very slow, spiritual sounding tune, and I’m all for it. It really sets this album off on a great foot, and it’s beautiful. now, this album is full of stark differences. More often than not, it’s the sort of soft, Psych Folk instrumentals with Damon’s very intense performances clashing. And usually, it makes for a pretty flooring effect. However, I’m not nearly as into “Time” sadly. I feel like the pacing on this one is a little all over the place, and between Damon and his band, I feel like something is a little off. However, I still do like a lot of the elements here. So many of these tunes, I almost get in a trance listening. Damon sure knows how to make some seriously hypnotic tunes. “Time” is certainly a decent tune, but not what I expected. Then we have “Skipping School”, the haziest and weirdest track yet, but I’ll be damned if that doesn’t make this one really stand out. This one is so much easier to place. I love Damon’s more soothing vocal performance here. It’s funny, you don’t hear Damon and his band at the same level too often, but it’s a cool effect when they are. The instruments are so interesting here, half of the time they sound like they’re collapsing in on one another. “Skipping School” is bluesy dreary, but at the same time is really beautiful and euphoric. So much of this album is seriously a slow burner. These tracks demand patience and want to take over every ounce of your being. And for the most part, they’re worth it.
“Calling Paul the Suffering” is up next, and not only is this the most upbeat track here, but it’s also very synthetic. All of the other tracks here have this lush, natural beauty to them. But this one is the exact opposite, coming off very flashy and glossy sounding. But I think it makes for some even more creative moments between Damon and his band. His howl is just so haunting, even in moments like this where he comes off as probably the most human element of this entire track. “Calling Paul the Suffering” is a solid tune, with some of Damon’s wildest and most charismatic moments of the album. But I still would much rather listen to a track from Amen Dunes that I really have to sit with. For example, “Miki Dora”. I honestly feel like this is the best track Damon has ever written, and may just be the best Rock tune I’ve heard all year. There’s such a subtlety to this opening on all fronts, and I love the way each instrumental slowly makes its way in. Not to mention, this track has my favorite of all of Damon’s performances here, as he just sounds so hurt and bluesy here. But it’s a hypnotic tune, and so many of his vocal snippets here give me the chills. Just hearing Damon get this personal, come out of his shell and all is absolutely flooring. I could listen to “Miki Dora” for hours. Then we have “Satudarah”, which is much more subdued. And it’s still an alright track and all, I certainly think Damon’s very dreary performance is just as solid as some of his best moments here. But I just can’t get into some of these instrumentals. Some of the other ones on here have been so meditative and need your patience. But the instrumentals on “Satudarah” are sadly boring. It’s certainly got a great atmosphere and a fantastic vocal performance. But as a total package, this one falls short for me. Thankfully, “Believe” instantly has my attention right back. You gotta realize, so many of these instrumentals are so fragile but end up building up to something magnificent. This is one of Damon’s most biographical and accessible performances, and it’s actually a really incredible sound. Damon really isn’t playing into a single genre, and a lot of this album is hard to classify and place. But “Believe” is a stunning performance nonetheless. I do have to continue to say though, this album demands patience, and if you can work with this album it’ll get inside you. Not to mention, Damon’s performances are just so damn emotional and intense. Tracks like “Believe”, totally make me get the hype.
The very ethereal, Psychedelic vibes to this album continue on with “Dracula”, which as far as the upbeat tunes here go, it may be the best one. There’s a very nostalgic feel to so many of these tunes, as well as a biographical feel like I already pointed pit. This is another seriously fantastic tune. The way the instrumental on “Dracula” builds up, completely surrounds you and then flourishes, even more, is actually incredible. Not to mention, I feel like as this album goes on and on Damon gets more comfortable with his performances. Damon follows that up with “Freedom”, possibly the most tranquil and sweet sounding track here. But as far as the performance here goes, this is one of my least favorite tracks on the album. Damon while he has spent so much time coming out of his shell, here seems to reserved and unsure of himself. “Freedom” is pleasant to listen to and all, but it could have been much more. Thankfully, Damon comes through with a soothing, incredibly lush, and meditative finale with “L.A.”. The pacing here is great, Damon sounds as soulful and endearing as ever, and I just can’t get enough of some of these vocals. I still feel like a lot of this has a very nostalgic feel to it, and I actually really love the inclusion of a sort of reprise from that dialogue that opened up this album. Even those synths are a really nice touch, I would have loved to hear more of that. As a finale, “L.A.” absolutely works.
“Calling Paul the Suffering” is up next, and not only is this the most upbeat track here, but it’s also very synthetic. All of the other tracks here have this lush, natural beauty to them. But this one is the exact opposite, coming off very flashy and glossy sounding. But I think it makes for some even more creative moments between Damon and his band. His howl is just so haunting, even in moments like this where he comes off as probably the most human element of this entire track. “Calling Paul the Suffering” is a solid tune, with some of Damon’s wildest and most charismatic moments of the album. But I still would much rather listen to a track from Amen Dunes that I really have to sit with. For example, “Miki Dora”. I honestly feel like this is the best track Damon has ever written, and may just be the best Rock tune I’ve heard all year. There’s such a subtlety to this opening on all fronts, and I love the way each instrumental slowly makes its way in. Not to mention, this track has my favorite of all of Damon’s performances here, as he just sounds so hurt and bluesy here. But it’s a hypnotic tune, and so many of his vocal snippets here give me the chills. Just hearing Damon get this personal, come out of his shell and all is absolutely flooring. I could listen to “Miki Dora” for hours. Then we have “Satudarah”, which is much more subdued. And it’s still an alright track and all, I certainly think Damon’s very dreary performance is just as solid as some of his best moments here. But I just can’t get into some of these instrumentals. Some of the other ones on here have been so meditative and need your patience. But the instrumentals on “Satudarah” are sadly boring. It’s certainly got a great atmosphere and a fantastic vocal performance. But as a total package, this one falls short for me. Thankfully, “Believe” instantly has my attention right back. You gotta realize, so many of these instrumentals are so fragile but end up building up to something magnificent. This is one of Damon’s most biographical and accessible performances, and it’s actually a really incredible sound. Damon really isn’t playing into a single genre, and a lot of this album is hard to classify and place. But “Believe” is a stunning performance nonetheless. I do have to continue to say though, this album demands patience, and if you can work with this album it’ll get inside you. Not to mention, Damon’s performances are just so damn emotional and intense. Tracks like “Believe”, totally make me get the hype.
The very ethereal, Psychedelic vibes to this album continue on with “Dracula”, which as far as the upbeat tunes here go, it may be the best one. There’s a very nostalgic feel to so many of these tunes, as well as a biographical feel like I already pointed pit. This is another seriously fantastic tune. The way the instrumental on “Dracula” builds up, completely surrounds you and then flourishes, even more, is actually incredible. Not to mention, I feel like as this album goes on and on Damon gets more comfortable with his performances. Damon follows that up with “Freedom”, possibly the most tranquil and sweet sounding track here. But as far as the performance here goes, this is one of my least favorite tracks on the album. Damon while he has spent so much time coming out of his shell, here seems to reserved and unsure of himself. “Freedom” is pleasant to listen to and all, but it could have been much more. Thankfully, Damon comes through with a soothing, incredibly lush, and meditative finale with “L.A.”. The pacing here is great, Damon sounds as soulful and endearing as ever, and I just can’t get enough of some of these vocals. I still feel like a lot of this has a very nostalgic feel to it, and I actually really love the inclusion of a sort of reprise from that dialogue that opened up this album. Even those synths are a really nice touch, I would have loved to hear more of that. As a finale, “L.A.” absolutely works.
Rating: 7.8/10
Give A Listen To: “Blue Rose”, “Skipping School”, “Miki Dora”, “Believe”
Genre: Indie Rock / Psychedelic Folk
Overall Thoughts: This is by far Damon McMahon's most complete album yet. For years he's tried on everything from Experimental Rock to Psychedelic Folk. And for the most part, it's been all solid. But for the first time, Damon sounds comfortable in his own sound and really lets loose. This album is ripe with emotional performances and meditative instrumentals, which combined makes for a flooring listen. But there are still a handful of tunes here that I wasn't too crazy about, and some instrumentals could have been a little more fleshed out. Still, I'm totally on board with whatever Damon serves up next.
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