On Friday, April 8, Southeast Engine will bring their folksy beats and heartfelt lyrics to the Billiken Club in the con -tinuation of a series of concerts at the venue.
The band graces Saint Louis Un -iversity’s campus following the release of their third album “Canary,” which they hope will live up to the admiration of their previous two albums, the second of which received universal acclaim from Metacritic.
The press release for “Canary” said the album “tells the stories of a single Appalachian family holding on through the violent deprivations of the Great Depression.”
The concept for this album is undeniably original.
Rarely do modern albums have such a distinct storyline that they are able to stick to with such intensity and rigidity as Southeast Engine managed to accomplish.
The cohesion of each song to the overarching theme is impressive, even if the subject matter itself is not what would currently constitute relevant or even necessarily exciting.
The lyrics are what allow the theme to transfer from song to song so well.
The songs are packed with emotion, if seemingly outdated by modern standards, referencing debt collectors, FDR and rag gowns.
The pure heart of the lead vocalist becomes blatant with every word he sings, his voice raw and dripping with sincerity.
While unique as compared to more mainstream folk-rock, Southeast Engine still manages to incorporate the wavering and soulful voice of Mumford and Sons’ Marcus Mumford, with the subtle enthusiasm of Noah and the Whale.
But neither of those bands could really describe Southeast Engine due to the complexity and unrivaled execution of the concept of “Canary.”
Bluegrass undertones are what really differentiate Engine from its competitors.
Simple guitar chords combine with harmonica and the occasional piano interlude leading to an engaging cacophony of sounds from the four-man band.
The whole of the album contributed to its endearing nature but one track, in particular, stood out. “Adeline of the Appalachian Mountains” was most notable due to its sweet sentiment and floating expression of love, expressed with lyrics like, “so they watch you from afar, how they wonder who you are, like the brightest burning star on an early spring night.”
The song embodies the downtrodden struggles that the band attempts to portray with the album in a beautifully wrapped package.
The only factor working against “Canary” is its lack of potential to appeal to a broad audience.
While this, of course, should not be the motivation for creating music, the appeal of this album is likely to be so narrow that Southeast Engine will never have the opportunity to get their music and innovation heard by a widespread audience like they deserve.
Even those who are proud fans of bands like Mumford might not find the same affinity for Engine’s twang and country backbeats.
Southeast Engine deserves recognition, not as much for their catchy tunes or especially pretty arrangements, but because they are innovative and unique in a society where the same song can play every 15 minutes on a radio station and still be considered Top 40.
While Southeast Engine might not exactly be my normal tune of choice, it was fresh, real and well worth the listen.
