The Observer, September 12, 2008
Volume XLI, Issue 3
The Pack A.D. shows great bluesy potential with Funeral Mixtapes
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Modern blues rock is a curious beast, as artists are still attempting to find ways to make one of the oldest, most formulaic and simple forms of popular music sound fresh and exciting. Sure, there's the slick, polished sound of John Mayer, who can play the guitar well enough but hasn't found the outlet to push anything creatively or musically, but it's in the dirty, rough sounds of The White Stripes and The Black Keys where that fiery, creative soul of the blues currently resides. And that's where
The Pack A.D. hopes to find a home someday.
The British Columbian duo, consisting of singer and guitarist Becky Black and drummer Maya Miller released their debut full-length, Funeral Mixtape on Mint Records last month.
Unfortunately, their choice of instrumentation and stylistic leanings will inevitably earn them unavoidable comparisons to the Stripes and the Keys – two highly acclaimed bands to live up to. Already, Funeral Mixtape plays in the same vein of De Stijl-era White Stripes and the early Black Keys albums. It's simple, it's bluesy, the drums keep the beat loosely and the guitars slide up and down through distorted blues tunings and swampy solos.
This would be a rather dull affair were it not for the duo's greatest strength, which has rightfully been the focus of The Pack A.D.'s acclaim. Becky Black's vocals penetrate the atypical arrangements and elevate the album to something engaging and full of potential. She emotes but keeps it measured, thus enhancing the power of her voice. Black sounds secure and angry much of the time, but she actually manages to sound better when she's vulnerable and open, much like her presumable spiritual mentor, Janis Joplin. The slow-burning "June" exemplifies this style perfectly; its sparse arrangements leave plenty of room for Black to fill with her stunning voice.
The songs themselves are strong enough to hold out for the duration of the record. "Blackout" and "Making Gestures" are hooky and the album's highlight; the mini-epic "Wolves and Werewolves" features a couple stylistic changes. The album's title, however, fits much of the music, and this is unfortunate, as sepulchral songs like "Underground" and "Worried," as pained and emotive as they are, drag the album down.
Furthermore, the band has so much potential that is left untouched; in places where the duo should soar, they continue to tread the same tempos. For example, there were so many spots in "Dannemora Blues" where Miller could have started playing in double time, adding another layer to the song.
At the end of the record though, it's the duo's potential that hangs over most prominently, and Black and Miller, with some creative sparks and without holding back, could soon become one of today's best blues bands. The White Stripes and The Black Keys started simple as well, but they've since blazed some interesting trails for blues artists. Hopefully The Pack A.D. can head down some of them and maybe even blaze a few of their own.
