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| The Shaky Hands: The Shaky Hands |
| Written by eri-CH | |
| Monday, 05 March 2007 | |
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Contradictions in art, writing and music show the listener, the reader, the art enthusiast what we’re not looking for. The Shaky Hands for instance suggests something that is uncontrolled, unstable, and hasn’t the ability to be precise. The music of The Shaky Hands is a contradiction to its name, with a rustic quality and fuzzy pop, it is still music played with steady hands. It's a strong debut from the band out of Portland, Oregon, not to be confused with a band from New Zealand, who were once going by the same name but have since started going by a new name when this Shaky Hands band asked them to change it. The Shaky Hands have been building their members from three to five over several years now and it only adds to their instrumentation, allowing for an addition in guitar and pedal steel. The album works in the same way as the songs only get stronger and fuller the deeper you get. It is not until around the fifth track that this album really becomes something to pay closer attention to--This is not to say the other four songs prior to it are weak, it’s simply easing the listener in and allowing for a simmer before giving away all the flavor. The album begins with an upbeat, guitar driven track called “Whales Sing,” lead by singer Nick Delffs' warbling voice that hits sunny high notes amidst a jam organ complimenting the quick pacing of the rhythm guitars moving faster then a assembly line. The players work so fast the instruments themselves sound as if they are vibrating at the seams. What works so well in this album is the overall high spirit found in the percussion and lyrics. The variety in instruments ranging from guitar to horns and violins to steel make for the kind of stuff you would expect to find out of your fathers vinyl collection, worn out from overplay but the mood slices through the cracks and pops jumping between the dust and scratches as if they were always supposed to be there. The pinnacle track is “Another World Part 2” which sounds as if the band was channeling The Byrds' of old and writing how they might write today. Despite its influences ranging from the 1960’s to the 70s it's easy to compare this band to current uppity and jangle-y rock bands, but with the inclusion of a contemporary feel, it speaks to a wider audience. This album is not particularly groundbreaking within its genre, nor is it doing anything new, but despite whether or not this album changes the world of music it is still an album full of warm harmonies and determined whistles. The group sounds as though they have been playing together for five albums now, each song playing out as if they are playing spontaneously outdoors at a summer park. You would want to have been there. Check The Shaky Hands out on MySpace.
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