As the frontdude for Portland’s I CAN LICK ANY SONOFABITCH IN THE HOUSE, MICHAEL DEAN DAMRON set a new standard for raw, frayed-emotions country rock. As a solo artist, he’s not only refined that approach, he’s gotten even better. Damron’s third record Father’s Day is full of characters on the losing end of life, with attitudes running from petulant (“I Hope Your New Boyfriend Gives You AIDS”) and resigned (“Boy With a Car”) to tentatively hopeful (“Angels Fly Up”), wistful (a lovely cover of THIN LIZZY‘s “Dancing in the Moonlight”) and self-eviscerating (“I’m a Bastard,” TOWNES VAN ZANDT‘s “Waitin’ Round to Die”). With arrangements based mostly on acoustic guitar and harmonica, there’s no room for false notes – every sound has to count, and irony has no place here. Besides, with a voice as shredded as Damron’s (imagine PATTERSON HOOD after a weeklong cigs ‘n’ whiskey bender), there’s no choice but to believe every word sung. Father’s Day is an emotional rollercoaster ride, but it’s a tuneful one that I’m happy to take.
http://www.mikedamron.com
http://www.inmusicwetrust.com
