Thomas Dollbaum
Birds of Paradise
**** out of *****
The newest offering from the Tampa-born, New Orleans-based singer/songwriter Thomas Dollbaum is a collection of tunes that reflect on lost friends, loves and mortality. Mixing poetic, avian inspired lyrics focused on nature with engaging Southern influenced indie-rock is a successful combination throughout Birds of Paradise.
Dollbaum has observed his surroundings and relationships, distilling these these things into short stories, that touch on multiple sightings of birds, chasing rabbits, and lots of small town malaise. Very reminiscent of S.G. Goodman's strong Planting By The Signs, Dollbaum's tales have clearly been lived in and are vibrating with sense of unease, addiction and loneliness.
The backing music helps elevate these singer/songwriter tales with energy as the supporting cast of Nick Corson (bass), Josh Halper (guitar), Jake 'MJ' Lenderman (drums/guitar), move and shift, backing Dollbaum with confidence. Vocally Dollbaum recalls Adam Duritz, hitting high notes and yearning over the ten strong tracks.
The brief easy floating, acoustic strumming "Visitation" is a mission statement discussing ghosts and magical thinking about the dead and more. This grappling with death is never depressing as Dollbaum is coping and trying to move on with these songs such as in the poetic lyrics, top notch backing vocals and folk-groove of "Coyote" and "Rabbits" which deals with the uniquely Florida practice of chasing rabbits in burning fields to build up strength for football, but resolves with the phrase of "I'm happy to be alive".
The tempo kicks up for the stomping indie rock of "Dozen Roses" which delivers a great guitar solo from Lenderman to close while "Big Boi" employs a great rocking groove with more fluid guitar work. Both tracks bring to mind Neil Young and Crazy Horse, but in more refined, understated fashion.
While Dollbaum focuses on death throughout, the album is never mopey, weepy or much of a downer at all. The dreamy love song "Scrub Jay" echoes and brings happiness back to being surrounded by the albums title creatures, while the twangy rocker "Blue Meets Blue" closes the album revisiting life and death in practical fashion, with more water fowl in visionary locations.
Another clear comparison for Dollbaum is his drummer/guitar players solo release, Manning Fireworks as a sense of whimsy mixed with pining for real connection and anything new filters through the efforts like the revved up rocker "Pulverize" and the small town, tv rerun watching dreamscape, "King's Landing".
There is nuanced Southern gothic storytelling at work throughout Thomas Dollbaum's excellent Birds of Paradise which is best listened to at sunset on a warm summer night.
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