| Kevin Devine |
We Are Who Weve Always Been |
| Procrastinate! Music Traitors |
October 20, 2017 |
Kevin Devine — We Are Who Weve Always Been (Oct. 20, 2017)
•≥•≥ We Are Who We’ve Always Been, produced by long~term collaborator Chris Bracco & due out October 20 via Procrastinate! Music Traitors and Triple Crown Records, features reimagined, acoustic versions of songs from Kevin Devine’s 2016 album, Instigator, which was produced by John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.).
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Album release: October 20, 2017
Record Label: Procrastinate! Music Traitors
Genre: Indie Folk, Acoustic, Singer~Songwriter
Duration:
Tracks:
01. No Why 3:10
02. Instigator 2:57
03. Magic Magnet 2:56
04. Freddie Gray Blues 3:28
05. No History 2:42
06. Daydrunk 2:59
07. Both Ways 3:00
08. No One Says You Have to 3:07
09. Guard Your Gates 4:03
10. Before You’re Here 2:56
11. I Was Alive Back Then 5:09
Review
By Ava Muir, Published Oct 17, 2017 / Score: 8
•≥•≥ Nearly one year to the day that Kevin Devine released Instigator, his ninth record, the Brooklyn songwriter returns with We Are Who We’ve Always Been, an acoustic reimagining of Instigator’s 11 tracks. We Are Who We’ve Always Been brings Devine’s exceptional lyricism to the forefront, each word confidently reverberating against his gently fingerpicked acoustic guitar.
•≥•≥ Both Instigator and We Are Who We’ve Always Been’s highlight, the uncomfortably honest and devastating “Freddie Gray Blues,” is as vital and relevant as it was upon its original release one year ago. “And I know not every cop is a racist, murdering cop,” Devine softly sings, “but this is bigger than the people I love / the system’s broken, not breaking — it’s done.” These words bear the same weight as they did last October because our world is just as turbulent.
•≥•≥ Guest features from the Mynabirds’ Laura Burhenn and Nandi Rose Plunkett of Half Waif add an extra layer of depth on two of We Are Who We’ve Always Been’s most fervent tracks. Amidst the slow strings and gentle stroke of piano keys on “No One Says You Have To,” Burhenn’s echoes serve as comforting reassurance to Devine’s struggles (“It gets so lonely inside my mind, but I’m surrounded in love all the time”), while Plunkett’s silvery vocals on the album’s wistful, stripped~down closer “I Was Alive Back Then” sound like a ghost from Devine’s past.
•≥•≥ Although putting a new spin on a record that’s still fresh and affecting listeners can often turn out bloated and unnecessary, We Are Who We’ve Always Been’s tasteful acoustic renditions reinvigorate Devine’s thoughtful work on Instigator and emphasize its urgency. •≥•≥ http://exclaim.ca/
Website: http://www.kevindevine.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KevinDevineTwit
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevinDevineMusic
_____________________________________________________________
| Kevin Devine |
We Are Who Weve Always Been |
| Procrastinate! Music Traitors |
October 20, 2017 |
•≥•≥ We Are Who We’ve Always Been, produced by long~term collaborator Chris Bracco & due out October 20 via Procrastinate! Music Traitors and Triple Crown Records, features reimagined, acoustic versions of songs from Kevin Devine’s 2016 album, Instigator, which was produced by John Agnello (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr.).
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Album release: October 20, 2017
Record Label: Procrastinate! Music Traitors
Genre: Indie Folk, Acoustic, Singer~Songwriter
Duration:
Tracks:
01. No Why 3:10
02. Instigator 2:57
03. Magic Magnet 2:56
04. Freddie Gray Blues 3:28
05. No History 2:42
06. Daydrunk 2:59
07. Both Ways 3:00
08. No One Says You Have to 3:07
09. Guard Your Gates 4:03
10. Before You’re Here 2:56
11. I Was Alive Back Then 5:09
Review
By Ava Muir, Published Oct 17, 2017 / Score: 8
•≥•≥ Nearly one year to the day that Kevin Devine released Instigator, his ninth record, the Brooklyn songwriter returns with We Are Who We’ve Always Been, an acoustic reimagining of Instigator’s 11 tracks. We Are Who We’ve Always Been brings Devine’s exceptional lyricism to the forefront, each word confidently reverberating against his gently fingerpicked acoustic guitar.
•≥•≥ Both Instigator and We Are Who We’ve Always Been’s highlight, the uncomfortably honest and devastating “Freddie Gray Blues,” is as vital and relevant as it was upon its original release one year ago. “And I know not every cop is a racist, murdering cop,” Devine softly sings, “but this is bigger than the people I love / the system’s broken, not breaking — it’s done.” These words bear the same weight as they did last October because our world is just as turbulent.
•≥•≥ Guest features from the Mynabirds’ Laura Burhenn and Nandi Rose Plunkett of Half Waif add an extra layer of depth on two of We Are Who We’ve Always Been’s most fervent tracks. Amidst the slow strings and gentle stroke of piano keys on “No One Says You Have To,” Burhenn’s echoes serve as comforting reassurance to Devine’s struggles (“It gets so lonely inside my mind, but I’m surrounded in love all the time”), while Plunkett’s silvery vocals on the album’s wistful, stripped~down closer “I Was Alive Back Then” sound like a ghost from Devine’s past.
•≥•≥ Although putting a new spin on a record that’s still fresh and affecting listeners can often turn out bloated and unnecessary, We Are Who We’ve Always Been’s tasteful acoustic renditions reinvigorate Devine’s thoughtful work on Instigator and emphasize its urgency. •≥•≥ http://exclaim.ca/
Website: http://www.kevindevine.net/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KevinDevineTwit
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevinDevineMusic
_____________________________________________________________