Gathered In Song

Sub Pop (Damien Jurado's regular recording label) describes him as "a modern-day urban folk singer from Seattle." While Gathered in Song has a folksy feel to it, Damien Jurado is not the next Joan Baez. Recorded onto two-track without losing one bit of feeling, the songs are told in a storylike fashion that draws listeners in and causes them to want to sing along after a few listens; this is stripped-down simplicity that offers up no excuses. Jurado wears his heart on his sleeve as a newfound minstrel of heartbroken tales of love, life, and the details that are too often forgotten. While the song structure is almost too simple at times, that doesn't keep "To Those Who Will Burn" from giving off a creepy vibe when Jurado sings, "You will tear down, I will build up," in his dark, eerie voice. There would have been need for more variety if this had been a full-length, but as it stands, Gathered in Song is a great EP. ~ Kurt Morris|