Nuvo Album review: David England, “Little Death”
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David England
Little Death
After Show Records
NUVO Rates it 5
Well, here’s a nice surprise, and one of the best albums I’ve heard by an Indiana artist this year. Little Death is the second solo release by Bloomington’s David England, who we’ve heard before in The England Brothers (a band he formed with his brother Jon which was most active in the late ‘90s), the Benders and, most recently, in Old Flames, a sort of Gentleman Caller offshoot. But his solo work has never quite taken off, and what was said in a favorable No Depression review of his first album, 2003’sAlmost True, still holds up: “His music deserves to be heard beyond the Monroe County line.”
England’s work is of a part with the roots-pop scene that dominated Bloomington music in the ‘90s, led by the major label flirting Mysteries of Life and the long-lived Vulgar Boatmen, characterized by a clean, often-acoustic driven sound that was middle-of-the-road without being MOR, with lyrics foregrounded and roots-rock elements incorporated with, usually, very little twang. As for other touchstones, England sounds quite a bit like Elvis Costello — his froggy, thick voice would sound imitative if not for the lack of an English accent — and his songwriting is in the school of clever wordplay and catchy choruses that brings to mind guys like Costello, Marshall Crenshaw and Freedy Johnston.
Which is to say that you’ve probably heard something like Little Death before, but not often enough: tunes like “Catch Your Breath” and “Not Today” are memorable, almost-perfect pop songs with catchy choruses, well-placed background vocals (courtesy of Paul Mahern, who produced the record) and a slightly weary, knowing voice that offers wryness and honesty in just the right amounts. “Catch Your Breath,” is really the standout, the third track that propels the album, and which follows through on the album title’s promise of some eroticism: “I’ll let you catch your breath after your little death…show me how to hurt you now.” The aforementioned Mysteries of Life show up on one track — the unassuming “You Know Me” — but this seems to be England’s affair, and he chooses not to dress up his songs with any accoutrements, leaving it to drummer Devon Ashley and bassist Matt Brookshire to provide solid but unspectacular backing.
Jim Manion for No Depression (05/29/03)
Almost True - David England
Out of South-Central Indiana is David England’s debut release Almost True. England’s hand-crafted project carries the aura of the album he’s always had in mind from a Bloomington guy who could have been a contender, and may very well still be. Almost True is also a showcase for the Lawrence County whiz-kid, David Steele, who embellishes England’s rootsy pop songs with an amazing array of instruments (drums, electric and upright bass, percussion, melodica, mandolin, and a variety of guitars). Steele’s multi-tracked backing always carries the right touch, never over-bearing and rarely soloing. Steele also produced the album with a sharp ear. Mellencamp producer/engineer Paul Mahern contributes heavily to Almost True on percussion tracks and mix-down. England’s weathered, reedy voice and accomplished guitar skills compliment his pop-roots approach. His songs echo some of his apparent influences (Elvis Costello, NRBQ, Lovin’ Spoonful, The Band), but his tunes get under your skin with a confidence that is England’s own……..
His music deserves to be heard beyond the Monroe County line. (davidengland.com)
CD BABY Review
David England-Almost True
Like “King of America”-era Elvis Costello, David England blends alternative folk with catchy, classic pop and country twang. For ‘Almost True,’ this innovative singer/songwriter has teamed up with talented instrumentalist David Steele with great results. They’ve made a record with all the homey earthiness of The Band, but with a sophisticated sensibility straight from the Neil Finn/Michael Penn school of melody.
Gone fishin’ by Lisa Sorg-Bloomington Independent (10/21/99)
The England Brothers’ ‘Grievous Anglers’
One trip to an England Brothers rehearsal and it’s easy to see why it took 18 months to finish their record. OK, it didn’t take that long, but it’s clear these guys - the brothers and the band - are ornery old friends who can’t be hurried. While they wait for guitarist David Steele to arrive, drummer Tim Brookshire gnaws on the last leg from an empty Kentucky Fried Chicken box, brown gravy starts to congeal in its Styrofoam bowl and several stray cans of Natural Light get warm. Dave England noodles Thin Lizzy licks on his guitar, as Jason Wilber, Jon England and Andy Hollinden make disparaging remarks about Garth Brooks.
“I wrote ‘Mr. Brooks,’ because I hate him,” says Jon England of a song on the new record - and then laughingly adds, “As we get bigger I’ll be known as the surly one.”
This camaraderie infiltrates the England Brothers’ debut disc Return of the Grievous Anglers. And if the artwork arrives in time - it can’t be hurried either - they’ll release it at the Cellar Friday; the show starts at 9 p.m.
Although they usually perform acoustic, this show will feature the band Dave England describes as “all funny, smart, nice and good-looking”: Steele on guitar, Wilber and bass, Hollinden on organ and Brookshire on drums. “Yeah,” England said. “Jon and I don’t need to show up.” Produced by Rich Morpurgo, Grievous Anglers is a batch of 13 funny, smart, nice, good-looking - and incredibly well-crafted - songs that reflect two disparate, yet complementary songwriting styles. (”We don’t collaborate whatsover,” Dave England notes. “We get along better on the phone.”) Jon was schooled in the poetic narratives of Greg Brown/John Gorka (”1000 Miles,” “Pearl River”) while Dave graduated from the Marshall Crenshaw/Elvis Costello academy of clever pop (”Storybook,” “I’m Not to Blame”).
The record showcases a Who’s Who directory of performers including several members of the live band, plus David Rawlings, Danny Deckard Jennie DeVoe, Brian Lappin, Doug Harden, Grey Larsen, Greg Norman, Janne Henshaw, Michael Reynolds and Todd Smith.
But these players are more than just a bunch of A-listers to beef up the liner notes; they left their fingerprints on the songs. The dark and shadowy “One Son Dead,” one of the record’s outstanding songs, is the perfect stage for Rawlings’ precise minor-key picking and Henshaw and Reynolds’ lonesome harmony vocals.
“Dave Rawlings is a hero of mine,” Dave England said. He called Rawlings during the 1998 Lotus Festival and told him, “there’s a song you gotta play on,’ and he said, ‘I can do it at 12:30; I have an hour.’” They went into the studio where England offered him some charts to read, since Rawlings hadn’t heard the song before. “He said, ‘I don’t want a chart,’” England recalls. “He played it three times and we took the second one. After he tuned up he did it in 15 minutes.”
The Jon England-penned “One Son Dead” is the story of a man who comes home from work early, finds wife with his brother and shoots him in the chest, then chokes his wife to death. (”Now they’re gone and I feel so ashamed there’s no one left to share my name. I’m just glad mom and dad didn’t live to see one son dead the other in the penitentiary.”)
“My mom heard it and said ‘ooh’,” laughed Dave. “And Jon said, no mom it’s not autobiographical.”
Steele contributed the spooky Ry Cooder licks on “Haunted House” and the slinky country phrasing on “Your Kiss Is What I Need” whileHollinden’s B-3 work buoys the upbeat and catchy “I’m Not to Blame” and “Storybook,” both Dave England compositions.
As for “Mr. Brooks,” Jon really hates him: “I’ve watched you fly over the crowd hung by a wire. I’ve seen you smash perfectly good guitars just like a bona fide rock ‘n’ roll star. That microphone you wear sure does make you look like you work the McDonald’s drive-thru.
The England Brothers have modest plans for the album, hoping for some spins on WFHB, some disc sales, and more performances.”We play places we like even if it doesn’t do us any good,” Dave England laughs.
As for the Cellar, which qualifies both as a place they like and one that does them some good, this weekend’s show should be memorable, not only for the great songs, but also for the great band that’s going to make them shine.
“I told them to play as good and fast as they can. Show off and go crazy,” Dave England said. “People can listen to the records for the subtleties.”
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