Kevin Devine: Put Your Ghost To Rest

It doesn't happen that often: a cd by a singer/songwriter with a "parental advisory explicit content" thingy. Could it be the explosions on the cover art -- napalm, a land mine? And do innocent kids recognize that instantly? The actual content of Put Your Ghost To Rest by Kevin Devine tackles heavy duty topics like suicide (bottom line, don't), the American Dream (a nightmare at times), friendship and loss.

Kevin Devine offers some strong opinions that make sense, unless you are intellectually challenged beyond hope. Backed by The Goddamn Band (pianist/vocalist Amy Bracco, bassist/guitarist Chris Bracco, vocalist Carey Brandenburg, drummer/percussionist Mike Skinner, guitarist/bassist Russell Smith and violinist Margaret White), Put Your Ghost To Rest is an album that grows on you. The music is a lot sweeter than the lyrics, but it fits somehow. The best track by far is The Burning City Smoking, which deals with the state of things after 9-11:

I turn and I see Uncle Sam waltz out of the wardrobe, ready for the shoot
So I walk right up and talk to him, I tell him I'm scared and confused
And when they test the cameras out and get the lightning right
While catering fills coffee cups and carves up apple pie
And when the stylists trim his beard and straighten his lapels
I ask his empire eyes what made him drive us straight to hell

Kevin Devine is on Capitol Records. Buy from iTunes.

USA Tour dates:

• 11/15 Club Sound Salt Lake City, UT
• 11/17 The Roxy, Los Angeles, CA
• 11/18 Chain Reaction, Anaheim, CA
• 11/19 Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
• 11/20 Parkview Riverside, CA
• 11/21 Soma Sidestage, San Diego , CA
• 11/22 Clubhouse, Tempe, AZ
• 11/24 The Parish Austin, TX
• 11/25 Gypsy Tea Room, Dallas, TX
• 11/26 Walter on Washington, Houston, TX
• 11/28 Exit/In,, Nashville, TN
• 11/29 The Masquerade,, Atlanta, GA
• 11/30 Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, NC
• 12/01 The Ottobar Baltimore, MD
• 12/02 Axis, Boston, MA
• 12/03 Bowery Ballroom. New York, NY
• 12/05 Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA

» kevindevine.net
» myspace.com/kevindevine
» capitolrecords.com/kevindevine