Dead Man's Bones (2009)

New Wax


Let's get this out of the way. Dead Man's Bones is a collaboration between Zach Shields and Ryan Gosling. Yes, that Ryan Gosling. Isn't he dreamy? The young actor has turned in some fine performances over the years in independent fare such as The Believer, Lars & The Real Girl, The United States Of Leland, and Half Nelson, but any time a movie star tries their hand at music, you can't help but listen with a skeptical ear. Dead Man's Bones' self titled-debut album is somewhat of a concept album that revolves around themes of the supernatural, hence the appropriate band name. The band also employs the talents of a full-fledged children's choir from the Silverlake Conservatory of Music. It all sounds pretty gimmicky, but Dead Man's Bones ends up being one of the more interesting albums of the year. While the songs work at varying levels of success, there's enough creative fervor here to warrant a close listen. Gosling's vocals interplay nicely with the lo-fi arrangements and kid's chorus, and when Dead Man's Bones gets it right, like on album highlight "Pa Pa Power," they hold their own with some of indie music's elite. The track sounds like it could be an Arcade Fire song, and one of their better ones for that matter. For all of its unevenness and weirdness, Dead Man's Bones never ceases to intrigue. It'll be interesting to see what Gosling and Shields do next. -- Capt. Obvious

Listen:
MP3: Dead Man's Bones - In The Room Where You Sleep
MP3: Dead Man's Bones - Pa Pa Power

Tags: Dead Man's Bones, Ryan Gosling