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

Duncan Stagg & the Threadbare Band - EP

5/7/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Duncan Stagg & the Threadbare Band

EP
self-released; 2015

3.6 out of 5

By Jamie Robash

Duncan Stagg & the Threadbare Band could rightly be considered a crossover genre of sorts. The reason for this is because Duncan Stagg, lead vocalist and songwriter hails from Bristol, England, but his brand of roots-rock Americana sounds more American than many American bands of the same sort. Stagg’s debut EP simply titled EP is a mix of straightforward staples that one would find hanging out in the Americana rock genre. 

The songs on EP are collected from a number of years prior when Stagg used to play solo acoustic. When Stagg decided to record a record, he decided to assemble a backing band in order to give the songs more depth than they would have with only an acoustic guitar and vocals. The band he assembled consists of Jai Widdowson-Jones on drums and longtime friend, musical collaborator, and multi-instrumentalist Alex Hawker playing bass, keys, trumpet, as well as contributing backing vocals. 

EP opens strongly and loudly with strings and horns on “Tiger Cub.” Here one notices from the beginning that Stagg’s lyrics are full of metaphors, which he uses to illustrate the tales at the heart of his songs. Take for instance the lyrics, “you could shoot an eagle down/and tear a tree from its roots/did the fall even make a sound?” and a few bars later repeating “the dirt will bring you down.” By the time “Tiger Cub” has reached its zenith, the aforementioned tiger cub has broken free of its chain amid swirls of trumpets and wild electric guitars. 

“Joe” starts out as a slow and sappy acoustic melodrama of a broken relationship and Stagg is even careful to inflect a bit more twang to his voice to accompany the prominent banjo line, which runs throughout the song.  By contrast “Piece of Thread” is slow and sappy and seems as though it was written for expressly that purpose, just to show a range of songwriting ability, though here it sticks out as exactly what it is. 

All is forgiven by EP’s best track, the wallop of a dirge “Sinner Blues” where everything seems to come together perfectly. The drums skip about, the keys come alive and Stagg’s vocals and pacing are spot on. This style of song seems to be Stagg’s strong suit and one wishes there would be more of it on EP. 
Become A Fan

official website
Tweet
0 Comments

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