Search - Damien Jurado :: Waters Ave S

A tasty, unique album

bugenhagen | 03/01/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This thing is delicious. "Independent" is masterful. I think that's his sister singing backups--she adds a lot to the overall feel."

Charming folky rock

J. Holmes | yokohama, japan | 10/26/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"this is the first record by this Portland based singer songwriter, and his songs play out like miniature viginettes with characters and stories that are simple in their nature and quaint in their delivery.



he tells of the sadness of divorce ansd the distance one feels from their partner on the album opener "Wedding Cake." he reals off a quick ditty about a girl who loves to go out dancing all the time on "Yuma, AZ." one on of the albums more quirkier numbers "Space Age Mom," is directed at someone's mother who has a fixation on supernatural phenomenon, Elvis sightings, etc. it's a sort of jolly ribbing and a mild way to poke fun. the album's strongest cuts are the haunting "Halo Friendly" on which Damien harmonizes with his kid sister to spooky effect, and the late night/early morning hush of "Treasures Of Gold."



there's a nice little array of instruments used on this record aside from your basic rock setup of guitar, bass, and drums, there's also harmonium, mellotron, trumpet, trombone, and a theremin. aside from the acoustic folky pieces, the music on Waters Ave S. ranges from a stripped down alternative rock sound and a few songs have a rollicking Randy Newman piano bar feel (specifically "Purple Anteater").



Damien's voice is an aquired taste; on the more upbeat numbers, he sort of bellows out in a nasaly flat tone and on the quiet songs, he has a very tender croon. but overall, this is a pretty neat little album that show a fine ear for melody and a gift for penning some good songs."

Less folky than other jurado

bugenhagen | Ft. Wayne, IN United States | 12/05/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"That said, I think I like it better than some of the other stuff I've heard, which included Rehearsals for departure as well as a couple of tracks somebody had taped from an unknown source. "Independent" is beautiful, also "Sarah" and, surpisingly, "Space-age mom." I also like the album title and the picture on the front which makes me wistful for Seattle; i think Jurado's music catches musically what it feels like to live in the Northwest--or Seattle, at any rate. He's not easy to characterize but his roots, here as elsewhere, are in the Folkways anthology."