SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SHAKEY GRAVES – AND THE WAR CAME

Shakey Graves
And The War Came
Dualtone Music Group

And The War Came, the latest release by Shakey Graves, is a tremendously powerful piece of folk revival. While many folk singers suffer from penning albums that seem bland and uninteresting after a few tracks, the songs on his latest album never fall into the trap of too much minimalism. They display a distinct, mature, and easily recognizable style.

The album opens with “Only Son,” a quiet piece that sets an intimate tone and has a distinctly Lumineers-style quality about it. A favourite track is “Dearly Departed,” which features a duet with Esmé Patterson and witty, charming dialogue. Even more extroverted tracks such as “Pansy Waltz” and “Call It Heaven” still feel personal thanks to striking guitar and graceful chord progressions.

This record establishes Shakey Graves as an artist to be reckoned with, particularly due to the strength of his songwriting. The album is worth several replays at the very least, and establishes long-term interest to any newcomers not already familiar with his talent.

– Alyson Shane (Twitter @alysonshane)

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