Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Case Watson - the banshee

11/8/2019

1 Comment

 
Picture
Case Watson

the banshee
self-released; 2019

​4.1 out of 5 - TOP ALBUM

By 
Ryan Kachikis


On her debut album the banshee, NYC art rock artist Case Watson delivers a mix of hard, bluesy burners and quiet pastoral pieces that aim to effect change. Utilizing a traditional rock band in addition to a string section, Watson’s album is a rollercoaster of emotional expression and sonic textures. Produced by rising star Willie Green, the synergy between the acoustic and electric, the heavy and the light perfectly encapsulates Watson’s message of surviving and thriving as “a little girl” in a world of chaos.

​The banshee maintains lyrical focus on socio-political issues of modern day America such as war, feminism and the rise of demagogy. Watson juggles these heady topics with a nimble and evocative singing style that finds her transitioning on the driving baroque-pop rocker “Else.” The song contains an operatic falsetto and a stunning, full-throated chorus. Over the disparate elements contained in the banshee’s arrangements, Watson’s voice guides the listener and leaves an impact, definitive of her album’s musical quality and representative of this project’s concept of a woman’s voice being a powerful tool.

What will enthrall listeners at first blush is this album’s clever use of the string section. The album is sequenced in a way that the presence of these elements seemingly build over the first two tracks, until the fully orchestral “Balloons and Moons” lands softly as a lush and vibrant lullaby, reminiscent of the brilliant Kishi Bashi. Watson explores a similar flow on the album’s B-Side, traversing from the woozy and downtempo “For Me” to the aggressive prog-rock of “War Song”; and, finally, culminating with closing track “Vampire Sky” a folkloric and haunting ballad where Watson goes minimal with only a ukulele to back her.

As an artist, Case Watson is the epitome of the modern female singer/songwriter. She draws from the traditions of folk, rock, blues, indie and classical to craft a sound that is authentically acoustic in its elements but mystical and surreal in sum. The consciousness of its lyrical perspective fits this time and place when political discourse and a surplus of solutions to unavoidable problems dominate society.

​With the banshee, Case Watson ascends to the league of contemporaries like Lucy Dacus and Jesca Hoop who are pushing the sound and messaging of rock music in this difficult time as the decade turns.
official website
bandcamp

See Case Watson live 11/17 - click here for more details
Tweet
1 Comment
Shane Counter link
11/21/2019 04:46:50 am

Terrific work - beautiful, chaotic, soaring. Vulnerable and knowing at the same time.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact