Three months ago I was introduced to Daniel and The Lion. I haven't been able to stop listening to them since. At that point we only had Side A of their record Death Head. Two weeks ago, Death Head (Side B) was released. Side B is a fantastic compliment to Side A. The songs seem a bit softer than those of Side A, and the use of string arrangements and horns give this chunk of the record a great symphonic sound. While Side A features five tracks, Side B only has four: Lavender, On Berlin, The Dark Red Waltz, and Paper Dove.
Lavender opens with a chorus of woodwinds, followed by Jimmie Linville's vocals. The strings along with the vocals give this song a very classical, waltzy feel. The Dark Red Waltz also has the waltzy feel, but hence the name, is in fact, waltzy. This song invokes visions of Georgian ballrooms, with all the fancy ladies dressed up all fancy, and the men watching them dance around the room, yearning for their company. Paper Dove, a metaphor of a fragile person, a fragile love. Probably the softest song on the record, but also the most beautiful. Again, with the strings and such, the song is melodic and beautiful. On Berlin is my favorite track on Death Head (Side B). Again, I totally dig the strings and melodic qualities of this song. When I listen to this song, the picture in my head is of walking the streets of Berlin on a crisp Autumn day (why Autumn? Coz that's when I first listened to it, walking home on a crisp autumn day, albeit in Spokane rather than Berlin, but still)
I highly recommend picking up this record, as well as Side A, and Daniel and The Lion's other release Sweet Teeth here. And if you happen to be in NYC around say, the 19th of October, catch them at the Outlaw Roadshow at the Bowery Electric. I'm going. It's gonna be amazing.
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