MP3 The Understate Men - Propaganda
Country Rock and Americana with a Seventies Feel
12 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Country Rock, ROCK: 70''s Rock
Details:
The Understate Men - Propaganda
Diftong Records
Review by Ruud Heijjer of Dutch Magazine "Heaven"
Jan/Feb Issue 2004 (https://www.tradebit.com)
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A worthy successor
[countryrock] On their second CD, Dif and jd decker combine the social criticism in their lyrics with acoustic country and folk ballads or with Neil Young style guitar rock. This last style is best illustrated in Freedom (!) with its dry plopping bass and piercing guitar riff. Adding Deadpan Dirk on drums and Pyedog Pete on dobro, mandolin and harmonica they play these characteristic styles with countryrock vocals in two voices. Less puristic than their debut, they use fretless and acoustic bass and an accordion in ballads that here and there remind of sailor songs. Their sense of good melodies is illustrated almost everywhere on this CD. Besides the rocksongs, it contains perfect pop songs, like Underneath and Mourning in June, a dignified menuet. Dif writes about propaganda in the Iraq war, the environment and street violence more than he does about love, although he does so convincingly in some of the songs. The lyrics can be found on their all English website, probably all English because their idols live across the ocean. Maybe another reason is they think the rest of the world should hear their music, in spite of their name. This engaged, rootsy and stylish Americana of Dutch origin deserves to be embraced indeed.
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The Understate Men - Propaganda
Reviewed by Marcel Haerken, Dutch Music Magazine OOR
(nr.1 January 10, 2004)
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In their own words, Dif and jd decker played Americana long before it was a common genre name. Given the facts that Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Ooutlaws were there heroes 20 years ago and that they both play in a Neil Young tribute band, this is a plausible statement. Although Neil''s influence is still there, the dinosaur''s sound is less obvious on Propaganda as it is on their nameless first CD. There are some lesser songs on the album but there are enough tracks to enjoy. Backed up by Pyedog Pete bluesharp, dobro, banjo) and Deadpan Dirk (drums, percussion) this band with the modest name plays both solid rock and folky songs. Harmony vocals, all kinds of tasteful string instruments and melancholic accordion are the main characteristics. The Understate Men play adventurous https://www.tradebit.comntry that reminds of the approach of Lazy Sunday Dream. And to avoid misunderstanding: this last comparison is a compliment.
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Notes by Dif of the Understate Men
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This is the second Understate Men CD. It was made in the Rhine Delta but the Understate Men acknowledge the teachings of the great American rootsrockers. Some of the songs come from under the dark 911 cloud that hovers over this planet. Other songs reflect the beauty underneath. Poetic lyrics explore the impact of humanity''s freakish behaviour. Is this survival of the fittest according to Darwin? The Understate Men pick up their instruments and make their own propaganda.
Some Understate Men facts: Dif an jd decker compose songs, make arrangements, play guitars and some other instruments, record and mix. For this album they were assisted by Deadpan Dirk on drums and Pyedog Pete on bluesharp, dobro and banjo. Gert van Santen (room2move@https://www.tradebit.com) did the mastering in his magic room full of colored lights and pretty buttons. Jes took some pictures and Dif used them for a cover design. Drums and bass were recorded in the decomposing cottage on the land of Dif''s sisters. All other recordings were made in the Understate Men Base in Dif''s garden. For the release of this album they decided to give birth to an indie label: Diftong Records.