Sunday, November 05, 2023

The Stevenson Ranch Davidians: Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs 2006 + Life And Death 2009

 

A cult to follow, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians’ soulful sounds burrow into the hearts of their


devoted and faithful followers. This four member band is fronted by Dwayne (lead singer, rhythm guitarist and lyricist) and accompanied by Jessica (bassist/organist) , Matt (lead guitars) and Bryan (drums), and lists musical inspirations and influences as diverse and as far reaching as their global following.
                     

The SRD’s manufacture catchy and sometimes dark tunes and have built upon the foundations of

seasoned blues artists and the bands of the psychedelic eras, both past and present, to carve a niche unique to themselves and their generation—“When you’re in between everything, what does anything mean?” Existential concepts and thought is riddled throughout the entirety of their music, leaving the listener with the sense that they have company and comfort even when alone. They preach the gospel of a generation now at the helm.
                                 

Unlike traditional cults and organized religion, the sermon is simple. Nature is the way. Our generation

is spiritual and internal, yet we are the first without God. “You came in with a cry and you'll leave on a moan. You came in on this life, and you’ll leave all alone.” We take responsibility for the circumstances of our lives, for conventional wisdom has shown us only to place blame because of happenstance and disappointment.
                 

“And if you dream of beauty, love and freedom for us all—you have to realize that nature is the law.”

And lastly, letting go of your “self” is a responsibility entrusted to humanity, for being lost is the human condition. It is a sermon that previous generations may find cold and dark as our fathers scratch their heads pacing the floors of their suburban homes pondering its significance, but truly, the message echoes the voice of a generation that is transfixed on realism and aware of the cruxes of life rather than a hope for a long-shot miracle. “We don’t know how it started; we don’t care how it ends.
                   

Who the hell needs a pardon when you don’t believe in sin?” The word of the SRD’s. Not lost in the

message, is the underlying connotation of hope and solace. Rooted deeply in their music, is a clear appreciation of life’s peaks and lulls. The SRD’s hold steadfastly to the belief that even if life is nothing but a series of incidents and accidents, we are enabled by a divine spark to endure and best every swell. Having licensed their debut album to the German label “Beyond Your Mind Records”, the Davidians celebrated the release of “Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs” in May of 2007 in 16 E.U. nations.
                         

This band is all about digging life and giving thanks and praise to the people, places and things that

make it such a soulful and extraordinary experience. “Well, here I am. I've found my place. My time is now in time and space. This big old world I was born to face, I’m gonna do it right. I'm gonna make it great.” This mass has ended. Go in peace………….M. Wesley

                                             

THE STEVENSON RANCH DAVIDIANS - PSALMS, HYMNS, & SPIRITUAL SONGS 2006
                      

Deriving their band name from a religious cult, like how The Brian Jonestown Massacre did, the

'Davidians create a lush, shoegaze-influenced atmosphere with splashes of Paisley Underground psychedelia. It's earthy, peaceful, and densely beautiful throughout. An instantly cathartic experience that leaves you wondering if this is what that fabled heaven wound sound like. Like the previous reviewers have noted, the SRD sound similar to the BJM and The Verve's early material on The Verve E.P. and A Storm in Heaven. So, you might be familiar with the sound, but there's plenty of good, blissful music here that can't possibly disappoint. Close your eyes and relax.

The Stevenson Ranch Davidians – Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs
Label: Not On Label – SRD-04 1906
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: May 15, 2006
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS
                            

01. Let It All Go    4:09
02. Getting By    3:06
03. Nature Boy    3:22
04. Nothing's Cliche    3:42
05. Better Day    5:15
06. Inbetween Everything    6:04
07. Don't Get Hung Up    3:13
08. Beginnings And Ends    3:42
09. What A Wonderful World    3:18
10. Nothing To Say    4:05
11. Subliminalover    4:34
12. No Tomorrow    6:07

LINE - UP

Bass, Other [Organ Pedals] – Jessica Latiolait
Drums, Percussion – Bryan Showalter
Guitar [Lead] – Matt Assmus
Tambura, Guitar [Pedal Steel], Other [Stabs] – Raymond Richards
Vocals [Choir], Percussion [Claps] – Mandy Gattenby, The Parson Red Heads, The Stevenson Ranch Davidians
Vocals, Guitar [Rhythm] – Dwayne Seagraves


MP3 @ 320 Size: 119 MB
Flac  Size: 327 MB

THE STEVENSON RANCH DAVIDIANS - LIFE AND DEATH 2009
                             

Wrapping themselves in the gentleness of smokey hazed layered fuzzed out intoxication, in much the

same manner as Spiritualized first did, you’ll find The Stevenson Ranch Davidians delivering a bit of unexpected swirling low keyed hypnotic wanderlust, complete with discernible disembodied vocals and lyrics. That being said, with the band certainly part of the neo-psychedelic revival, there’s a bluesy undertone to their music that is downright captivating haunting and imaginative.
                            

The Davidians never seem to come straight at you front and center, it’s more that they lazily roll in just out of your peripheral vision, shimmering off to the sides, laying waste to the end of a couch-bound

evening, where with their sounds slowly ebbing in your ears, unexpected inspired thoughts come and go, ungraspable, just out of reach, important for the seconds they exist, before another takes its place and you find yourself fully engulfed in dreams of delight and magic, with The Stevenson Ranch Davidians laying down a perfect soundtrack, one that rides like a breeze barely moving the curtains, with a big ol’ smiling yellow moon peaking in through that window to let you know that everything’s just fine.

The Stevenson Ranch Davidians – Life & Death
Label: Not On Label – 041909-2
Format:    CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2009
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

                                    

01. Do You Feel Free?    3:11
02. Cosmic Blues    4:42
03. Everybody Live    3:57
04. Lookin' For A Line    4:15
05. I'm A Man    2:49
06. Feelin' Good    3:52
07. Everybody Dies    4:20
08. I Wanna See    5:13
09. Oh Life    4:57
10. The Truth Shall Set You Free    4:44
  

10 comments:

  1. I have the first and the third ( Amerikana). I miss life & death.
    Unfortunately there is no offer anywhere. I put it on the want list.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  2. Super post. Thank you very much Mr. Kostas.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jim Jones & the Kool-Aid KidsNovember 5, 2023 at 9:09 PM

    Cults are a construct of the white male patriarchy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha...that amuses me.
      Jim Jones...a few feminists whispered that to you ?

      Delete
  4. For anyone who is interested, a very interesting interview with DENNIS LOREN
    in It' A Psychedelic Baby Magazine.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Always something fascinating popping up on this Blog. Certainly looking forward to giving this a go. Thanks mate.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi there
    May be one day would you post some records of "Ganglians"
    a californian band i saw in Paris opening for "The Wedding Present" at the Point Ephemere
    (I had a few words with them, very nice guys, and a gig way much better than the wedding present after them)
    and i have a lot of difficujties finding their records in france
    Many thank's for all the jewels you share with us

    ReplyDelete
  7. Return of Dr. FunkensteinNovember 8, 2023 at 2:14 AM

    Could you do please do a UA style on the mighty Afronaut Phunklordz Parliament-Funkadelic?

    ReplyDelete