With the first blow of the harmonica on the first track on the album, “Moonlight of the Night,” listeners may think that they are in treat for another easygoing indie-folk release; however, there is just as much variation in mood as there is in the instruments utilized throughout The Vanishing Blues. Sonically, the record comes across similarly to many other folk albums with crisp vocals complementing the usual instruments. On a second listen, listeners may then begin to appreciate the oddly, poetic, spoken-word technique he utilizes on fantasy-like tracks like “The Hobbit.” It is tracks like “Rhythm and Blues Waltz” that slows down the tone of the often whimsical nature of the first half of the album, and also fulfills its role as the perfect tune for those long drives through nature with that special someone.
It is not that The Vanishing Blues will make listeners want to play it over and over again; it instead acts as an experimental, yet personal debut for Devin Frank as a solo musician. Whether you are a listener who pays attention to lyrics or instrumentation first, or a fan of indie-folk or not Devin Frank offers a treat for any listener. The Vanishing Blues manages to sound like many other folk-rock albums released in the last few years which may be disappointing for some who are in search for something revolutionary in the folk genre, but Devin Frank takes the embodiment of folk and runs full force with it to produce a solid debut that is as equally poetic as it is flat-out unusual.
Recommended If You Like: Father John Misty, Fleet Foxes
Recommended Tracks: 1, 4, 5, 7
Do Not Play: 2, 3
Written by Andrew Chavez on 11/16/2016