Prior to being signed to Sub Pop records, Damien Jurado had put out several seven inch vinyl records and cassettes of great emo/indie rock. He also had a song under the name Coolidge on a recent Tooth and Nail compilation. Waters Ave South presents a mellower side of Damien Jurado than his previous work. It is his first full length on Sub Pop and it has been picked up for distribution in the christian market by Tooth and Nail. The closest comparison I can make to Damien's music is that of his labelmate and friend, Jeremy Enigk. Like Enigk, Jurado borders on emo and manages to present a feeling of urgency wrapped up in mellower music. While Jurado's music isn't as lush as Enigk's (he doesn't have an orchestra), he does use a wide variety of instruments: guitar, bass, drums, percussion, optigan, trombone, trumpet, piano, hammond organ, harmonium, mellotron, theremin, and sampler. The band includes Paul Mumaw of Soulfood 76 on drums and Ed Carrigan, formerly of Blenderhead, on guitars, bass, trombone, and trumpet.
4 tocks
Other coverage for this album
7ball #12Reviewed by Chris WellDamien Jurado comes from the school known as "emo pop," a musical form that mixes the contrasting dynamics of grunge with free-form lyrics and improvised vocal melodies. His old band Coolidge was featured on the Tooth and Nail indie punk sampler I'm Your Biggest Fan. For his solo debut record, however, Jurado trades in his punk roots to try on his "sensitive songwriter" hat for a record that…Garlic Press #6Reviewed by J. Edward Keyesa witty lo-fi folk album, each song is a story & each lyric is an actor. each of his sad sorry characters live within the fragile confines of damien's creaky voice and delicate chord progressions. like dylan on prozac, jurado serenely delivers tales of lost love, new age mothers and vindictive circus clowns. adding to the sparse arrangements are a variety of instruments such as trumpet,…Similar sounding releases
2002Richard BucknerImpasse
2002The BillionsNever Felt This Way Before
2004CerverisDog Eared
1998Steve HindalongSkinny
2005In Praise of FollyMeans/Ends
2002Neva DinovaNeva DinovaMore from Damien Jurado
1996Trampoline
2003Holding His Breath
2000Postcards and Audio Letters
2002I Break Chairs
1999Rehearsals for Departure
2003Where Shall You Take Me?
