Review Summary: One of the most underrated rock albums of the decade
The only thoughts that went through my mind the first time I listened to Dead Sara’s debut album were along the lines of ‘wow, this must’ve been what it was like people heard Pearl Jam or Led Zeppelin for the first time.’ Only certain bands can conjure up the notion that you’re hearing the future like that, and if I ran the world, every band who wanted to mean anything would be aspiring to be Dead Sara. Carving out their own distinct sound, full of color and personality, the kind of sound that makes you think ‘this could only be from this band.’
The first thing that leaps to the forefront of one’s mind while listening to Dead Sara is the strength of the vocals. With no hyperbole, Emily Armstrong is quite possibly the best rock vocalist to come out of the 2010s, and among the best of any genre. She’s nothing short of awe-inspiring, the sort of voice that takes your breath away. But there’s no way that mere words could get across just how much of a powerhouse Armstrong is. One needs only listen to the climax of Face to Face, or all of Monumental Holiday and Lemon Scent to figure out that one can only undersell Armstrong. Her range and vocal strength are extraordinarily consistent throughout the whole album, and are a major selling point.
The vocals are not alone in propping up the album, Siouxsie Medley has the chops to go down as one of the great riff crafters of our time. The guitar work is often simple, but punchy and memorable, seen on Weatherman and Lemon Scent, yet just as often lush, dense and gorgeous, seen on Whispers and Ashes, We Are What You Say. It’s a testament to the effectiveness of simplicity and the importance of straightforward power in crafting a truly great hard rock album. The rhythm section props up the vocals and guitar work perfectly, only ever serving to compliment the truly fantastic parts of the album. The production is equally outstanding, fitting the needs of each song perfectly, so that each part that needs a punch punches hard, and so that every softer, more sensitive part allows itself to settle within you, and then explode right when it needs to, creating the most emotional resonance possible.
To put it simply, I think this is one of the most underrated albums of this decade. It’s gorgeous, powerful, and resonant, propped up by two of my favorite, if not just two of the best musicians in their field at this time.
Favorite Tracks: Sorry For It All, Lemon Scent, We Are What You Say, Whispers and Ashes, Test On My Patience, Face to Face, Dear Love
Least Favorite Tracks: I Said You Were Lucky, if I had to pick one.
