"Birds & Cages" by Deas Vail

Well, it's before noon on a Saturday morning, which means I'm the only person within three miles that's awake. So, what better to do than write another review.

Deas Vail certainly got this one right. "Birds & Cages" is a sweeping work of amazing melodies and beautiful vocal work, both male and female. Piano work and string work are everywhere to be heard, which, as we all know, is a quick way into my musical heart. Not just that, but there are several amazing musical builds that occur over the course of this CD that get my music senses tingling.

However, before I get into the music of the album, let's talk about the album artwork. Did you see it? It's a bird. Standing on a cage. In a vest. With a bow tie. And a top hat. The bird is in a top hat. Have you ever seen a more awesome album cover? I think not.

Melody is king in this album. Every single song soars on electric guitar and piano that can be in one moment delicate and beautiful and as energetic and rockin' as can be in the next. The frontman's vocal work is so versatile, that it could almost be thought of as an instrument in itself.

Along with his outstanding vocal range, the guy sings some downright powerful lyrics. Several of the songs are loosely spiritual, but this is by no means an album that only lovers of religious music can enjoy.  In fact, many of the lyrics are questioning the big, wide world people find themselves in and just how small we sometimes feel.

This album would be the perfect one to listen to either driving along at night while you're thinking some things out, or walking along a country road (of course, there aren't many country roads at UCLA so I suppose I'll listen to it walking along Bruin Walk). The album is beautiful - that's the biggest adjective I can throw at you about it. It's just a beautiful 50 minutes of music.

My three favorite songs on the album are "Birds," "Dance In Perfect Time," and "Atlantis."

Here's a link to their Myspace!

http://www.myspace.com/deasvail

I hope all your New Years are going well and, until next time, enjoy!

Andrew