The White Stripes + Zombies + Blood Swamp + More Blood =

Album: We Are Night Sky
Artist: Deadboy and the Elephantmen
Genre: Swamp Rock
Year: 2005
Label: Fat Possum

I’m beginning to start these all the same way: I haven’t written anything for a while and I’m not really at the top of my game at the moment. There is laundry that needs doing and I’m falling asleep at the proverbial wheel (a recurring theme to come.) So, here is a quick review of Deadboy and the Elephantmen, a contender for best band name ever. Dax Riggs was the vocalist for Sludge/Doom Metal band Acid Bath. Acid Bath came to an abrupt end when their bass player was killed in a car accident. Since then Riggs has pursued various projects. One of these, Deadboy and the Elephantmen caught my eye and I picked up their album “We Are Night Sky.” I was not disappointed.

I have never been a huge fan of The White Stripes, probably because Jack White has an extremely whiney voice and the drums have usually felt lack luster. Deadboy and the Elephantmen, a guy on guitar/girl on drums duo doesn’t exactly re-invent the wheel, but it does give it a fine and well needed tune up (har har.) Dax Riggs has a fine vocal range (never once whines) and the drums are thumptastic. The genre of swamp rock is an old tradition, and a good one, well suited to an ex-sludge metal pioneer. Lyrically speaking, Deadboy doesn’t stretch that far from Riggs’s previous place as Acid Bath’s screamer. Skulls still rain from the sky and there is no rainbow. Another recurring theme is the night sky; it is contemplated and, once or twice, envied. However, this is much easier to take in one sitting then say “When the Kite Strings Pop.” No bass, obviously, just swampy guitars, bludgeoning drums and Riggs’s bluesy howl. Some of the tracks are entirely acoustic, with just the guitar and Riggs’s voice. One of these “Walking Stick” I think may be one of the finest moments on the album. Other excellent tracks are the opener “Stop, I’m Already Dead” and the lo-fi thrash of “Kissed By Lightning.” Deadboy is refreshing on a number of levels, you have Riggs’s reinventing himself as a swamp rocker and you have proof that the wheel sometimes can be oiled and still run just fine. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The problems are really only existential ones. This is the only Deadboy album, though Riggs’s is continuing in this direction on his solo stuff (His most recent album; "We Sing Only of Blood or Love" is also very good.) Another problem is the simplicity of the music means that I don’t have that much to say about it. It’s good, you should check it out. It’s not my absolute favorite thing in the world, but it’s damn good none the less.