Austin, Texas’ Western Keys makes the kind of music that fluctuates from sweet and simple melodies to twisted and torn tunes that are ridiculously catchy and entertaining indie rock.
Ben Dickey’s voice is addictive in its imperfection as it breaks and jumps around the songs, never sticking to routine.
The whole record seems rough on the edges, but comes off as a welcoming flaw that draws listeners in.
And Dickey is Western Keys. Sometimes he plays with a full band and sometimes he tackles the job by himself with just a guitar and boombox.
But on this seven-song EP “Damage,” Dickey features three more musicians who add to the concoction of solid, eclectic tracks.
The fun and rousing “Gettin’ Sick” bounces along with such feeling and attitude you can’t help but love it.
As the unfortunately short song nears its end, the lyrics burst open with, “Wait up/Wait up/She said as I was leaving/But I was already gone/Yeah/Miles away.”
The songs are more like stories than typical “radio friendly” songs because they never follow a general pattern.
They don’t really have choruses, and they’re not overly produced to sell millions of records. It’s just music and words that captivate, and that’s all you need.
The mesmerizing track “Laughter” is the longest on the EP at just over four minutes.
It flows through a failed relationship and the pain of overcoming it.
With elegant lyrics and the added subtle backing vocals of cellist Leslie Sisson, the song breathes life into misery as it relentlessly chants, “It’s over,” at the end.
There’s also the sensitive and somber “Driver Denies,” the delicate Texas twang of the persuasive “Become You” and the acoustic guitar of the melancholy “Free,” which has Dickey sniffling at the end.
Ben Dickey’s talent is highly held in the same category as esteemed indie rock sensations Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes and Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse.
Whether many people agree or not, these seven songs and a couple of tours will make people crave for a full-length album.
It’s a smart and enigmatic release, which may launch Dickey’s career forward - we’ll just have to see what “Damage” can do for him.
