Perkins deserves all the praise and lofty comparisons that he receives. For his sophomore release, Perkins assembled a talented backing band to fill-out his folky, singer-songwriter approach, and the rounded-out sound could not be better crafted. From start to finish, Elvis Perkins In Dearland's diverse, acoustic rock and folk influences meld into catchy—sometimes touching, sometimes uplifting—musical story pieces. Perkins' voice is both melodically endearing, like on the slow and sentimental "Hours Last Stand," and enthusiastically jumpy, like on the upbeat "I Heard Your Voice In Dresden." The assorted instrumentation stays in step with the tone of the vocals, and the poetic lyrics exemplify why Perkins is one of the more well regarded song writers over the past few years. Elvis Perkins In Dearland is worth both a purchase and a listen. He is currently on tour now, so plan accordingly.For a taste of my favorite song off the album, watch this studio video for "Shampoo."
