MP3: Devon Williams – “Sufferer”
LA-based musician Devon Williams has been making quite a name for himself over the last few years, splitting time between working with folk/performance band Lavender Diamond, playing with up-and-coming power-pop sensations The Champagne Socialists and all the while developing and recording his own baroque pop songs under his own name. Ably abetted by friends Allen Bleye and Greg Arnold, Williams spent a year and a half painstakingly piecing together a beautiful, coherent set of songs to form one very unique album.
The fruit of this labor was the brilliant album Carefree, released in 2008 on Ba Da Bing. Demonstrating a knack for crafting timeless pop that’s equal parts Brill Building and Topanga Canyon, Williams hearkened back to great songwriters like Nilsson, Chilton, Downes and Westerberg. Buoyed by Wall of Sound production, economical arrangements and a wealth of 12-string jangle, Carefree is a perfect pop record in the truest sense, a record bursting with melody that rewards repeated listens.
Now we’re quite excited to welcome Devon to the Slumberland family with this excellent new single, a taster for his upcoming Slumberland album. “Sufferer” adds a bit of new wave flavor to the mix, the chorused and reverb-laden guitars reminiscent of mid-period Cure or even Teardrop Explodes. The tune is another Williams future-classic, instantly memorable and charming with its driving elegance. “Who Cares About Forever” also impresses, a slowdance simmer with a wonderful melody and soaring, spare guitar jangle. Both songs reinforce Williams’ status as one of our finest song-writers and arrangers, and are ample evidence that his next album will be something quite special indeed. Until then, give this single a spin or three and be sure to catch him on tour with Outrageous Cherry this fall.
DEVON WILLIAMS
Sep 04 San Francisco, CA Hemlock *&
Sep 05 Portland, OR East End *#
Sep 06 Seattle, WA New Pangea (Daytime show 3pm)
Sep 06 Seattle, WA The Comet *
Sep 07 Olympia, WA The Brotherhood *
Sep 09 San Francisco, CA The Knockout *
Sep 10 Los Angeles, CA Spaceland *$
Sep 11 San Diego, CA Che Cafe *
Sep 15 Los Angeles, CA The Echo %
* = w/ Outrageous Cherry
& = w/ Makeout Party
# = w/ Little Claw
$ = w/ The Tyde
% = w/ The Brunettes
Devon Williams
Sufferer 7″
(Slumberland)
Street Date: Sept. 22, 2009
1. Sufferer
2. Who Cares About Forever
DEVON WILLIAMS LINKS:
Myspace: www.myspace.com/devonwilliams
Press Materials: www.slumberlandrecords.com/press/devon-williams/devon-williams.html