Eclectic collection from the Rhode Island four-piece celebrating their roots, families and local people.
Three years after their Emotional Contracts album, Deer Tick return with their latest collection. The title is taken from the name of the cigarette vending company that was used as the headquarters of Raymond Patriarca, the head of one of the most ruthless crime families in the U.S. The Massachusetts-born mobster moved to Providence, Rhode Island, at a young age and took over the operation at 42, moving the headquarters to the Coin-O-Matic in 1956. Singer and guitarist, John McCauley, states, “If you grew up in Rhode Island years ago, you’d see all these mobsters on the news and then run into them at a restaurant on Federal Hill”. McCauley wanted the record to reflect the urban environment and the place they come from.
This is essentially a rock record, with an edgy feel, musically and lyrically, throughout. There is the occasional reflective moment, but they are used sparingly, so be prepared to play this one loud. The record is an engaging and thoughtful collection of songs that reflect on life, families, and people in the Providence area and how they are shaped by it. Dog Years starts things off with one of those brooding moments, just voice and acoustic guitar, before springing into life, setting the tone for what is to come. The set was recorded at the band’s home studio and is their first totally self-produced volume. The sound is exceptional. Drummer Dennis Ryan and bassist Christopher Ryan are the perfect engine room for McCauley and Ian O’Neil to showcase their guitar talents.
The lead single Mary Singletary explores Catholic guilt and how, back in the day, and even so now, the idea of a Catholic and a Protestant having a relationship together of any kind would be more than frowned upon. The lyrics “Father says I must confess / Say my fifteen Hail Marys / Dressed in my Sunday best” perfectly mirror the feelings of those times, when a confession may not even be the last of it. The piano towards the end is straight out of the Steve Nieve/Elvis Costello wheelhouse, just wonderful. There are changes in style throughout. Sweetest Thing has a funkier feel, whereas the third single, ACI, is an out-and-out classic rocker about life in and out of the Adult Correctional Institutions (the state prison system) in Rhode Island. McCauley came up with the chorus during a jamming session at a soundcheck. It was one of the first songs written when Coin-O-Matic was scarcely just an idea.
Everything Born, the second of the three singles to date, is another simple rocker with choppy guitar and gorgeous lyrics touching on family, friends and people you meet along the way and how all of them have importance as you grow older. O’Neil wrote the song and says, “I was thinking about my son and the people of Providence, RI while writing it.”
I Am An Island is an exquisite tune and opens with the thought-provoking lyrics “You’re spitting out your mouthguard / Cos you need a little rest / That’s all you’ve got left / In your little bag of tricks.” The organ, although at the back of the mix, swirls around the words in a way that complements the whole striking cut. 507 Smith sounds like an old-time tune before a heavy riff comes in. With the excellent line “All’s well that ends well / But sometimes it just ends” in the chorus, this is sure to become a live favourite and a time for the audience to join in.
Candy Cigarettes completes the album with a striking six-minute story song about friendship, love, and making things work despite obstacles along the way. Deer Tick’s return is an excellent set. All’s well that ends well.
