Needle, Feather, And A Rope

Local alt-folk band Blind Willies goes electric and adds some new members. Lead singer/songwriter Alexei Wajchman produces a haunting and gleefully sardonic album about prostitution, street life, and the mentally deranged. Played live on KZSU in May 2011 and sounded fantastic! FCC clean.

*1. Upbeat. Vaudevillian melodies with accordion give a circus atmosphere.
2. Mid/up. Deliberate and angry vocals broken by a peaceful interlude.
3. Slow. Dramatic, foreboding vocals with slowly building instrumentation.
4. Mid/up. Plodding melody based around the words of a mental patient.
*5. Slow. Head-nodding, hymn-like elegy. Builds magnificently with some beautiful cello playing behind it.
6. Upbeat. Sharp vocals, but with an unexpectedly catchy melody.
7. Mid/up. Semi-sweet tune carrying some odd, out-of-place cheeriness.
*8. Slow. Peaceful, patiently developing melody. Prominent cello and pensive vocals gather energy and let it out, rising and falling.
*9. Upbeat. Wide-open, airy melody rocks out with energy and joy.
10. Slow. Mourning vocals, simple piano, and a bit of harmonica.
11. Mid/slow. Plodding melody with a full sound. Alexei said this song is perfect for final exams (“nothing’s as bad as you think it’s gonna be”).
*12. Upbeat. Energetic, happy melody with a celebratory handclap finale that is oh so good.
13. Mid/up. Unsteady, affected vocals lead into an intense, rocking ending.
14. Mid/slow. Laid-back, easygoing melody gives a sweet concluding feel.