Tiger Saw and The Reasons Why – Wet and Unlucky
Epifo Music – 2021
The world moves in mysterious ways, and when Dylan Metrano of Massachusetts sadcore band Tiger Saw booked Arkansas country act Dylan Earl and The Reasons Why to play a gig with his band, he never expected that Wet and Unlucky would be the result. Metrano fell deeply in love with the old school country twang of the band, knowing immediately he was going to have to collaborate with them. Fortunately, they agreed with his assessment, resulting in one of the most intriguing albums to come out this year.
A slow, spooky groove underlines “Wet and Unlucky”, unravelling the actual tale of Metrano hearing the band initially. “I heard a band singing ‘Jolene’” establishes the sense of wonder and overwhelming need to record with them that he felt. The song simmers with slide and piano, creating an intersection between the two musical worlds. The sense of wonder at what was being created seems to permeate every groove.
Laidback slide takes over on “The Moon Last Night is Gone Today.” Moody and soulful, the song deals with the grief that overtook Metrano after his father’s death. Striking in its ability to capture the mood of desperation one feels and the realization of carrying on with all that is left, despite how hard that can be. The closing slide work only serves to heighten the longing living within the track.
More straightforwardly countryish, “I’m a YouTube Series, You’re Prestige TV” examines a relationship doomed to failure. The participants are just too different to be able to make things work out, “I know that there will never be a you and me/ We are just too different, I think that’s plain to see.” Despite that, there is a spryness to the song that would sound great on Nashville radio.
The power of music rests at the heart of “All Dogs Go To Heaven,” as an intense piano offers chords that set this song on a path that seems to negate the country nature of things, yet the steel guitar that ends the piece illustrates otherwise. Along the way, Metrano sings about the potency of music, “In these stacks of vinyl I’ve got everything I need/ The words of David Berman, and the gospel of Lou Reed.”
Along the way, we get an incredible duet between Metrano and Geneviève Beaudoin, of the band Dead Gowns that is over in just two minutes, much like the great moments of George Jones and Tammy Wynette or Porter Waggoner and Dolly Parton. “Watching Reruns of our Love” ends up name-checking Bonnie and Clyde, Johnny Cash and June Carter while resting on the three-part harmonies of Metrano, Earl and Beaudoin. Finally, there is sweat and swagger of “We’ll Always Have The Night.”
In perfect country fashion, the album ends far too quickly; always leave ‘em wanting more. The nine tracks of Wet and Unlucky leave us wanting far more from Tiger Saw and The Reasons Why. Who’d have ever thought that sadcore and country would merge so successfully?
Order Wet and Unlucky via Bandcamp: https://tigersaw.bandcamp.com/album/wet-unlucky
Website: https://tigersaw.com/