Peasant - Bound For Glory

I reviewed Peasant’s second album On the Ground back in 2009 for The 405. I unfavourably scored the album, and questioned Peasant’s artistic integrity. When re-reading the review I perhaps was a little harsh. Therefore when the opportunity to review Bound For Glory arose I was intrigued hear if Peasant aka Damien DeRose had grown as an artist, and I could somehow make amends by writing a more positive review. Subconsciously, I wondered - was I looking to restore the karmic balance in a ‘My Name is Earl’ kinda way?

The role of a critic is essentially redundant in the white water rapid information surge of today. By that I mean that whatever I say about Bound For Glory is unlikely to matter to Peasant, or indeed those who will listen to the album. There are thousands of ways to recommend this album, thousands of voices that may influence others. Judging by Peasant’s comments that On the Ground received “overwhelming” praise from the critics, my concerns about hurting his feelings seem back in 2009 seem quite frankly ridiculous. Enough digressing, I shall share my opinion on Bound For Glory right about now….

Sounding on the verge of tears, Peasant poignantly serenades us on the album’s title track, urging us not to worry. I am worried because this song is a real weepy, and there are moments when I get a little choked up. Oh, there is something in my eye. I reach for the box of Kleenex beside my laptop only to find it empty. ‘The Flask’ sees Peasant strained, his voice operating at a higher pitch. Already two tracks in and we have some variety. Steady rolling ‘Girls’ is a trad folk jam, bemoaning the fairer sex. ‘We’re Not the Same’ goes further down the rocky road, telling the story of a bitter break-up. Peasant is quite defiant here, looking to move on, but then she cried.

Whilst Peasant’s simplicity was his Achilles heel on previous releases, this time around describing situations succinctly over strums and sparse percussion fits, because there seems to be a definite sense of relate-ability here for the listener. Peasant sings about lost love, about those tender moments that faded to dust, and then blew away in the wind. We’ve all been there, and more often than not we’ve struggled to articulate and deal with those emotions.

‘Amends’ is probably my favourite time from the album, the one moment when Peasant gets it dead on. The lovely little piano melody that trickles throughout raises a wry smile. ‘Take It Light’ also is a mighty little trundle, with comforting hums and countrified chords. Finally, eleven songs in, ‘Pretty Good’ ups the tempo and tugs away the comfort blanket from our futile grasp. This doesn’t last along and we’re back in reflective mode, ‘Don’t Let Me Down’ draws the curtains, leaving us once again alone in the dark.

Bound For Glory is a weary listen, though Peasant has perfectly captured the mental disintegration, and the half thoughts and ponderables that rattle in a mind when a relationship breaks down. I’m loathed to say that this is a break-up record, more an album that reflects upon the end of something that once meant everything.