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Artist
The New Drakes
7+ albums
about
This album by the "New Drakes" is actually an album by the old "Drakes" -- a Tucson band fronted by an uncommonly talented pair of musical underachievers named Tom Stauffer and Gene Ruley. Their first two albums are difficult to find, and plenty worth the effort in doing so. All of their work features strong music and lyrics at once angry, depressed, funny and poetic. Stauffer has an unmistakable and rich vocal quality, and Ruley's guitar style can usually be identified in less than three notes. As good as their first two efforts were, Staircase Wit really does illustrate a "maturity" in the band's songwriting. No longer as angry or depressed as they once were, it would still be a mistake to view the perspective of this album as one of equanimity in the face of the suffering these writers have obviously encountered along the way. In a way, their ability to maintain their pain (and humor) while turning down the volume a bit makes the whole enterprise both more accessible and believable. Also unlike their previous efforts, just about every song on this album is a highlight. Pay particular attention to Fantasy Jones, Take Mine, Smoke, and Cannonball. Whenever I listen to the Drakes, I can't help but feel a bit saddened that they aren't better known and appreciated. This is very, very good stuff. The Drakes, or the New Drakes, I guess, are the real deal. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
