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September 8th 2008 by E..

Delta Spirit - Ode To Sunshine (Rounder)

Unfortunately, my only real memory regarding San Diego’s Delta Spirit is a bit cloudy. They played at the TLA with Dr. Dog back in November, and I was the lone representative of Y-Rock at the XPN volunteer table in the lobby. I was so busy the whole night, I barely got a chance to hear any of the performances, and what I did hear was garbled by the ambient noise of the densely packed venue. As it turns out, the choice to pair Delta Spirit with Dr. Dog (and, on an earlier tour, Cold War Kids) was a wise one, given the bands’ affinity for acoustic soul. On their self-produced debut, Ode To Sunshine, Delta Spirit let loose a tight set of songs that fluctuate between rousing Americana and heart-wrenching ballads that all showcase singer Matt Vasquez’s expressive delivery. Along with their often religion-inflected lyrics, Delta Spirit set themselves apart by using atypical percussion instruments. Lead single “Trashcan” features the eponymous item rattling around as the infectious piano riff carries the number along. Some of the strongest moments on the album are when the guys slow things down, giving “House Built For Two” and “People, Turn Around” an aura that recalls The Band at their finest. The stripped-down “Bleeding Bells” sounds like a lost track from Neutral Milk Hotel’s In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, and the title track closes the record with a country-tinged stomp. If anything, Ode To Sunshine has inspired me to go out to see Delta Spirit (for real) the next time they come to town. That next time happens to be October 23rd at Johnny Brenda’s, so don’t miss your chance!

Review by Eric Schuman

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