Beheaded by Bedhead (Review)

Imagine a 4-minute pop song version of Low and you’ve got Bedhead. And I’m not talking about cute, little ditties either. Oh, Bedhead still plays that lovely, mellow pop music (emphasis on the world “mellow”), but they aren’t afraid to rock out, as in the climax of “The Rest Of The Day.” Bedhead knows how to write beautiful songs that are both relaxing and disturbingly urgent. The vocals, shared by Matt and Bubba Kadane, are all kept pretty low, on the line between singing and whispering. Everything about this album is unassuming, until you actually sit down and listen to it. That’s when the emotional impact hits you.

“Burned Out” has got to be one of the saddest songs I’ve heard in some time, a tale of weariness and trepidation. All of the songs has a slight Country-Western tint to them; this comes through most heavily on “Roman Candle.” All of those “I can’t decide if I’m a Rock Star or a Cowboy” wannabes should buy Beheaded for this one song. It features beautiful, lonesome slide guitar, a non-pretentious vocal delivery, and a metaphor that’s both touching and compelling. If this isn’t a true western heartbreaker, I don’t know what is. Even though Bedhead has three guitarists, there’s never any real sonic assault. Rather, each guitar winds its own way, adding to the whole.

Beheaded holds a little personal thrall for me. I bought this album while I was on a break for lunch and didn’t listen to anything else the whole day. I had to work late and this album was a perfect companion to the loneliness I felt in the office. It made me feel as if someone out there who was on my side. For that alone, this album wins my approval. However, it holds enough to gain anyone.