Release Date: August 2, 2011
Devil Ship is the sophomore release for indie-folk band Among the Oak & Ash. On it, the band mixes together elements of indie, folk, rock and Americana in a way that is technically sound, but unfortunately, it’s almost entirely forgettable.
Right from the album opening title track, listeners will notice that Devil Ship has a very familiar style: singer Josh Joplin delivers in a clean, soft, country folk style; drums are light and simple, instrumentation is kept mostly acoustic; and it’s all wrapped in a sort of rustic, mountainous aura. There are a few interesting instruments that give the songs a sort of old-world spin but they don’t really differ much from the overall dynamic of most indie-folk. It’s ultimately too generic: other than the few twanging banjos, lutes or mandolins, there isn’t anything exceptionally new or exciting.
There are a few tracks that fare better than most of the others, though. “The Rose and Briar” slowly builds from a sparse introduction into a classic rock ‘n’ roll anthem with fuzzy backing guitars while still maintaining a folksy, pastoral sensibility. “Sing Sparrow Sing (The Ballad of Walter Kohn)” has a genuinely fun and catchy chorus, and the verses feel rich and well-developed. Also interesting is the track “Among the Oak & Ash” (Yes, it’s named after the band.) which is a slow, very personal song that really shows off what the band is capable of when trying to recall more somber emotions.
While most of the songs on the record are pretty forgettable, songs such as these give hope that, given enough time to find a unique and compelling style and voice, the band could develop into something really interesting. They just need to try being a little more adventurous.
It’s difficult to be so critical of Among the Oak & Ash. There’s an obvious passion for music in their album, a genuine desire to express emotion and enthrall the listener, but it plays everything too safe. There are no wild cards, no surprises, no shocking turns of events; everything is strictly by the book, and it’s hard to recommend Devil Ship to anyone. Fans of folk will already have heard everything here, and those new to the genre can find better examples of standard indie-folk.
Deep down, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with either Devil Ship or Among the Oak & Ash. The musicianship is competent, songwriting works and there’s nothing distracting or deeply unpleasant on the whole record. It’s just that everything done here has been done before—and done better—and as such, the album feels a little unnecessary. At least it’s inoffensive.
Among the Oak & Ash – Devil Ship tracklist:
- “Devil Ship”
- “The Redemption of John Hardy”
- “The Rose and Briar”
- “Billy and the Good Girl”
- “Among the Oak & Ash”
- “New York City, New York”
- “Little Red Rocking Chair”
- “Don’t You Weep (I Could Never Forget You)”
- “Sing Sparrow Sing (The Ballad of Walter Kohn)”
- “The Shaker’s Daughter”
- “Come All You Young and Tenderhearted”
- “The One Behind”
