The Rhythm of the Saints

Brother Danielson “Our Givest” – I still can’t believe I’ve seen almost nothing from this album making the rounds on the mp3 blog scene, but maybe it’s because it really is more of an album than just a collection of songs, which I know isn’t privileged on here but is nice sometimes. It certainly is in this case. So this is just a taste, a song with lots of energy to hook you in. Dan Smith’s voice sort of goes between a more normal range and the usual talking to the angels, and there are very cool chunky rhythms and many parts of the song going at the same time. There is fine jingle-bell stick work. There is a soft, tappy drum bit at the beginning that is probably on the edge of something. And there are also some of the detuned harmonies that go throughout the album and that are one of my favorite things about it. You listen and it goes from a little off to annoyingly off through the rules and into perfect harmony (that is, it doesn’t change; you do). I wrote about this a bit more a while ago.

As far as comparisons go, I do find it difficult to make any except to the Danielson Famile, which there isn’t much point in doing since it’s the same guy. I encourage you to listen to it about as many times as you can stand, and then you’ll start walking to the beat as you make your rounds, and the spirit (of the music) will be alive in the world. And then you’ll go and buy the album and realize how good the rest of it is and how this particular song fits into the structure. And you’ll make it to the last song in the right frame of mind for it to resurrect the eff out of you.

—Hillary