The Shaky Hands : Let It Die

<img src="http://www.qromag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/theshakyhandsletitdie.jpg" alt=" " />The Shaky Hands are simpler & easier on their third record in as many years. ...
The Shaky Hands : Let It Die
7.2 Kill Rock Stars
2009 

The Shaky Hands : Let It Die

A key part of today’s rise in alt-country has been the burgeoning success of fun, somewhat laid-back, country-rock, near-jam bands,like Dr. Dog (QRO live review).  While not particularly inspired or complex, their music is enjoyable enough, and they’ve followed the jam band model of near-constant touring. They’ve also been rather prolific, an album out each year (not making that complex music has its benefits…). The Shaky Hands jump on this bandwagon with Let It Die, their third record in as many years, and it’s a more enjoyable, if less interesting piece of work from the group.

Portland, Oregon’s The Shaky Hands had already made serious headway in these last few years, their self-titled debut (QRO review) landing them on major local imprint Kill Rock Stars for last year’s Lunglight (QRO review). However, they had always been hampered by the nasal tones of singer/guitarist Nicolaus Delfts, which made their alt-country work a bit grating.  The departure of drummer Colin Anderson after the recording of Lunglight was a major loss, and perhaps it pushed the band away from a more complicated sound, and towards the up-fun of country-rock.

There is certainly a lot of up-fun on Let It Die‘s opener/title track, with a backwoods grit that is absolutely charming.  However, from there the band delivers a few of decent-but-forgettable tracks in the same vein (with a little less up-swing), and other than the brighter alt-twang of the penultimate "Allison and the Ancient Eyes", none of the rest stand out.  Country-rock bands also go sad, and so do The Shaky Hands, but their sadness struggles to stand out, save for the more interesting mix of elements in "Caught In the Storm", such as seventies guitar press.

The Shaky Hands have moved a bit, from a more complex, if sometimes grating sound, to being definitely more enjoyable – and definitely less proficient (new drummer Nathan Delfts, Nicolaus’ brother, is, like The Shaky Hands in total, decent, but not amazing).  It wasn’t an unwarranted move, but hopefully they can find a saddle point somewhere in between, and more than either (and perhaps don’t put out a new record in 2010…).

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