Heather Duby
Issue #29
Heather Duby (Sonic Boom)
By Amber Drea
Published: September 1st, 2006 | 12:00am
Usually when I hear the term singer-songwriter, I run away screaming, but Heather Duby’s third full-length really caught my attention. On this album, the chanteuse worked with Erin Tate of Minus the Bear, whose most recent album Menos El Oso bears the electronic flourishes, unpredictable changes, and off-kilter rhythms found on Duby’s self-titled release. Longtime producer Steve Fisk (Nirvana, Low, the Wedding Present) and collaborator-bassist Bo Gilliland also had their hands in the record’s hook-laden sound.
Duby recalls the likes of Mary Timony and Shannon Wright with her unique songwriting style and rock sensibilities. Minor keys, layered harmonies, and dark melodies form the meat of the compositions, while sparse drums, guitar accents, and minimal programming provide the backbone. Her voice has roughened since her delicate debut, Post To Wire, developing a scratchy, yet clear tone similar to a less aggressive Pat Benatar. (Duby actually pays homage to Benatar on the hidden track, a cover of “Love Is a Battlefield” that sounds as if it was recorded live on a whim.) Standout tracks include the plush, almost danceable “Never Even Made a Voyage,” the rhythmic “Still Rough,” and the haunting “Dullard Or Are You a Breakfast Alcoholic?”
Comparisons to Wright continue on piano-driven songs like “Over and Under Arrangements,” on which she sings, “Memory, memory, you’re a mess / You’ve given up on love for less,” and the beautifully quirky, cello-accompanied “Gone Aground.” The only inconsistency is “Would Have Liked You (I’m Pretty Sure),” a jangly, lo-fi track with a repetitive organ riff and a high-pitched vocal sample. Other than that, the appropriately titled Heather Duby is her best album yet.
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