Pelicans - The barrier woods

Pelicans

The Barrier Woods
self-released; 2016

3.3 out of 5

By Jamie Funk
​

Kevin Crowley is the midst of making the project Pelicans. From what I read it seems as if he is going to release a proper album recorded in a studio. Leading up to it he released The Barrier Woods which is a bunch of demos. 

​The thing that has to be brought up is the production. This is a case in point of an artist who has some talent but the recording is so poor it brings down your perception of his skill. With today's technology digital distortion should really be a thing of the past. Digital distortion is not your friend. That distortion has high piercing frequencies that are not pleasant to a person's ears in any way. Most of the time saturation is what you are looking for which often sounds best on low and mid frequencies. 

Despite the high frequencies and boxy sounding reverb I could make out that Crowley has a good voice. That being said it falls directly into the typical singer/songwriter style that we have heard before. Soft, intimate and well one that ladies sometimes go gaga over. .

There are five songs on this EP with little distinction. All the songs revolve around a guitar and his vocals. There really isn't much detail to go into. He strums chords and sings. There are some decent hooks throughout and as I mentioned he can sing but once he goes for higher notes his vocals get smothered in digital distortion 

Pelicans is supposedly going to be a full-fledged band with drums, bass , etc. I’m looking  forward to what that offers because this recording does not do Crowley justice. As of right now the project falls in a category of wait and see, and are one to keep your eyes on.

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