Have a Brew, Take a Few Minutes to Listen
Brauheist 2006 has proven that John Pagliassotti, the mastermind behind Delta Dagger, has discovered a new sonic pallet in which layers of technicality and authenticity have assembled to form one hell of a record. If I were describing this album to my grandma, I would say, “eclectic, yet very cohesive.” Eclectic in the sense that John seems to be drawing from a variety of different genres/styles of music and yet cohesive such that the smooth and silky guitar riffs cut into that classic Delta Dagger edge. Here’s my take on a few of my favorites off of Delta Dagger’s new album.
Within 30 seconds of the first song “Die Up” you can immediately tell that this is going to be an epic album, taking your ears on a journey through various genres with a graceful balance of technical guitar wizardry and nuanced songwriting. For those of you familiar with the drinking game (or should I say “sport”) “beer die,” this song definitely needs to hit your day drinking playlists. John has managed to perfectly blend layers of psychedelic rock and tropical melodies into a cohesive unit which, to me, embodies the chaotic yet beautiful place that is Isla Vista. The steel drum melodies pulsate through the track and then are hit with a complex bass turnaround that resolves to the driving guitar lead. Overall: Sickness.
The title track, “Brauheist 2006” is pessimistic, comical, and sentimental. John’s rap-like vocals are awesome and definitely suit the style of this song. Some of the lines are especially depictive of the strange times we are living in: “Trouble came knocking, I said hello” and “Trade expensive habits for the chance to be lonely.” Brilliant...
“Time Well Wasted” immediately gives me old Strokes vibes. I love the way that the guitars and vocal melodies play off of each other and seem to harmonize in certain moments. The lo-fi, oversaturated vocals and the driven, harmonized guitar riffs attest to John’s unique approach to reworking this song originally composed by Andrew Shults of the solo project Magic ~ Fingers. The simplicity of the drums within the first half of this song allows for a resolving final chorus that really opens up. For drums within this genre of music, I sometimes feel like the classic hi-hat verse and open ride cymbal chorus can feel too predictable and cookie cutter. However, the way in which John has structured the drums in this one really combats that sometimes cliché song structure and allows for the last chorus to really punch through when we finally hear those cymbals.
The nostalgia in this song hits hard too and definitely highlights the trials, tribulations, and new opportunities that come with change.
“Robot Pirate Island - Live” is definitely one of my favorites and has scents of some of my favorite classic rock songs. The warm and invigorating tone of the guitar is one I always try to emulate myself. This song feels like a tribute to John’s former band Savage Henry embodying the fast pace and drunken carefree vibes that once took place within the mosh pit of the group’s garage den. A beautiful homage to our younger, slightly less responsible years. I absolutely love the jazzy chord progressions that drive the last few bars of this song.
All in all, Brauheist 2006, is an excellent follow up to Delta Dagger's first full-length album, showcasing not only his talented musicianship and songwriting but also his skills as a solo recordist and mixing engineer. This genre-bending album consists of jams that will make you laugh, dance, and cry. It even incorporates a special house remix of one of John’s songs at the end. Incredible. For all you music nerds and indie-heads out there, I highly recommend sifting through these songs for your next summer playlist.
