An eclectic alternative rock soundtrack – with history lessons and sexual intercourse.
Belonging to the rare breed of alternative rock folk, Deer Tick are also exceptional fellows. They prove this with occasional appearances as the Cobain legacy cover band Deervana or by applying black metal corps paint in the clip for the current single “Mary Singletary”, which musically evokes soul asylum rather than burning churches, even if it discusses the advantages and disadvantages of premarital sex from an (Irish) Catholic perspective.
Deer Tick’s ninth album COIN-O-MATIC is entirely dedicated to the history of their home state of Rhode Island – and thus to the life of the immigrant dynasties between Holy Mass and the Mafia. As keen on rock history as Scorsese, but stylistically broad, the band uses an eclectic soundtrack as illustration on their first self-produced record. Of course, college rock stands alongside classic rock and Springsteen, Costello and The Replacements references are just as important as soul references (“Sweetest Thing”) or cranked up doo wop (“507 Smith”).
It’s no surprise that “Exit Door” sounds almost as if the mid-seventies Dylan stumbled into the recording of the opening song of the sitcom classic “Cheers”. One of their best albums.