On The Download: Elvis Perkins

So, What’s in a name? Well for singer/songwriter Elvis Perkins, a lot…

Elvis – It’s probably the most daunting name to live up to as a musician.

Perkins — What comes to mind when you hear that name? Maybe… “Psycho”? Think Norman Bates, famously portrayed in Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece by Elvis’ father, Anthony Perkins, a world renown actor and avid fan of the King who died of complications from AIDS in 1992.

Elvis’s mother was photographer Berry Berenson, who was killed on American Airlines Flight 11 during the 2001 September 11th attacks on the United States by terrorists, a day before the ninth anniversary of Anthony’s death.

Add that all up and one would figure that Elvis Perkins’ music would be dreary and depressing. Well, that just isn’t necessarily the case…

After his somber but critically acclaimed 2007 tribute to his parents, “Ash Wednesday,” Perkins picked up a full band for “Elvis Perkins in Dearland.”

And what a difference it has made! Using organs, horns, and strings he keeps the brilliant songwriting and lyricism fans expect from intact, while bringing the music to a new sonic level.

The album bursts with stylistic variety. From the Bob Dylan meets Leonard Cohen folk-rock of the kickoff single “Shampoo,” to the New Orleans influenced “Doomsday,” or the gospel-tinged “Hey.” Elvis and his band float through styles so effortlessly you would think he was being backed by 10 different bands of seasoned veteran musicians from each genre.

Elvis Perkins second album has truly drawn him out of the shadow of his upbringing and proven him as an adventurous and talented singer, songwriter and bandleader destined to continue to make big waves in the music world’s ocean.