Jared Deck -- Head Above Water
Jared Deck’s third album, Head Above Water, transforms the rich vocals and sharp social commentary of his sophomore album into a battle cry befitting a wily but beleaguered leader. This reflects his own journey from a factory worker displaced by globalization to a community organizer to an Oklahoma State Representative.
The album’s strength lies in not only Deck’s versatile voice but also the talent of his band, especially the vocals of Chanda Graham and Myra Beasley. “Three Things,” a commentary on being a person of action in a world more interested in talk, which reads as a critique of Congress. Deck sings of gaining strength from a knife, pen, and sycamore tree – imagery unexplained but potentially referring to direct action, measured thought, and protection from forefathers (the sycamore tree being a Revolutionary War symbol). “Head Above Water,” a power ballad with moving backing vocals, depicts the struggle of a leader barely swimming in deep waters to advise those also at danger of being washed out to sea with Colby Brunch’s percussion creating the illusion of crashing waves and pounding rain. “Loose My Mind” employs Floyd Haynes’ sax and Kirk Palmer’s trumpet to convey a rollercoaster relationship, adding interesting wordplay to a common Country staple. “Amorita” segues to a breakup, creating a sense of continuity by reusing the album’s earlier ocean symbolism. The heavy guitar riff expertly reflects Deck’s transition from analysis to a breakdown.
“Fired Up” rallies against wealth inequality with a drum beat reminiscent of Gil Scott Heron and Deck leads the backing vocalists in a call and response straight from a picket line. Deck’s organizing expertise is at its best here, creating a vision of the power of workers that makes the listener want to rush to a rally. “Mountain Valley Road” moves from urging the listener to seek a life beyond seeking wealth to a modern homage to “We Shall Overcome,” with powerful vocal crescendos reminiscent of a hymn. “All Out of Answers” is a breakup song for when you are transferring the internet to your name instead of buying ice cream and sobbing.
“Two of a Kind” is the weakest song and the only not written by Deck. It uses somewhat heavy-handed card imagery to portray an old-timey country romance and the piano riffs more befit a hipster speakeasy in Nashville. In contrast, “Midamericana Blues” is a highly inventive ode to a “redhead Madonna” avatar for America with Madlibs-style references ranging from Dolly Parton, the Texas tax rate, Delta Blues musician Keb Mo, and Trader Joe’s. This dizzying amalgamation creates the vision of the grit and grace of America, slightly con artist and slightly divine. The album closes with “Songs About Love ” depicts a disillusioned lover who wants to still believe through a meta-narrative of songwriting. Here, the instruments and vocals coalesce beautifully to leave the listener with hope for the love genre despite knowing the odds are against it, a metaphor one could make for Deck’s political vision.
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