The Delta Spirit's 2008 debut album, ODE TO SUNSHINE, was released on esteemed roots label Rounder Records. And while the band doesn't exactly evoke the traditional Americana threads on which Rounder built its reputation, there is something decidedly honest and soulful about Delta Spirit's music. Piano-driven tunes such as "Trashcan" and "Strange Vine" evoke a slightly rawer My Morning Jacket or a dustier Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, while "Bleeding Bells" and "People, Turn Around" have a bittersweet ache that recalls Jeff Tweedy at his most desperate-sounding. It's contemporary references like these that ultimately make Delta Spirit intriguing, for though the inspirations that the band's name evoke are powerful, they are far from the only ones that have played a part in their sound.
Professional Reviews
Spin (p.114) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Delta Spirit's rough barroom pop is its own creature, with jangly pianos, rattling drums, and scruffy acoustic guitars making a thrilling ruckus."
Q (Magazine) (p.102) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[A] thought-provoking surprise....[The songs] eschew earnestness to bring a freshly-minted optimism to street politics."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.109) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he band hack out nice West Coast guitar tunes -- but vinegared by ragged inspiration from Dylan, Neil Young and maybe Kurt Weill."
