"Otherworldy" is the word that came to mind when I saw Adam Faucett play in Nashville's the Basement East a couple of years ago. The other was "spellbinding." That was when Faucett had released his previous album, Blind Water Finds Blind Water. Thankfully, the Arkansas has returned from whatever pocket dimension he inhabits to give us It Took The Shape of a Bird, courtesy of Little Rock's hometown heroes Last Chance Records. The singer-songwriter, a former member of The Tall Grass, has honed his writing to a fine point on this outing.
It should be said that Faucett had taken a deep dive into psychedelic country long before many of his East Nashville counterparts. The new album is no different, a journey through Faucett's unique perspective of the world. Sonically, it's one part grunge to three parts outlaw country with a dash of folk. Lyrically, these songs are dense and brooding. When Faucett performs, it's like he's drawing upon the very electrical vibrations in the room to pull you towards him. He's just that good, and you can hear a little piece of that in "King Snake."
"King Snake" tells the story of a girl adopted by abusive relatives. The girl seeks solace in the woods, where she makes an important discovery. Be assured that justice is served. The song showcases Faucett's piercing voice and the spiritual weight of his writing. The song opens on Faucett's careful picking and gradually builds to a swirling climax. The video follows the song's storyline literally, vividly illustrating the girl's retribution. Though the lyrics feel as if the song is meant to be historical, the video's contemporary setting makes the girl's plight even more sympathetic.
It Took The Shape of a Bird will be out on August 24 via Last Chance Records.
"King Snake" Lyrics
Daddy died when I was 10
Momma soon there followed him
My brother shipped to Africa
I was damned to Camden
Stayed there with "quote" cousins
Lived on top of eggshell
They need some little girl like I need hard lessons learned.
Truly I don't mind
When they pay me no mind
Unaware of where it is I go, or where I'm landing
I go out in the woods
Pretend I'm with my brother
Crushing eggs as loud as we can
It's WAR, YOU'RE NOT MY FAMILY.
I wipe the tears away
See me a king snake
How I wish I was like the king
Where poison wouldn't mean a thing.
ALL OF THIS HOUSE
ALL OF OLD CAMDEN
ALL OF THEM ANGRY MEN
ALL OF THEIR DRINKING
IF ALL OF THE SPIRITS PAST
FROM ALL OF THE AGES
WOULD COME TO ME, MAKE ME WISE, CLOAK ME FROM THEIR DRUNKEN EYES
If faith would lift me up
Love me solo
Fate leave my brother low
I bet he come to take me home
Waiting for that day
Quiet like the king snake
But if poison wants to slip again
So help me, God, I will kill him.
It Took the Shape of a Bird Track Listing
- "King Snake"
- "Central Avenue"
- "Mackay Bennett"
- "Pearl"
- "Dust"
- "Ancient Chord"
- "Living on the Moon"
- "Axe"
- "Rain"
- 'Sober and Stoned"
