It seems like I have been bombarded with extremely “thick” albums this year. The latest is the multi-layered and wildly philosophical new release from Dredg, entitled The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion. For the band’s fourth release they have shed themselves of the major label machine, opting to return to the independent music scene.
I stopped trying to figure out these dynamic and seemingly intimate albums a long time ago. I find I enjoy them more if I don’t take six months to try and analyze the album’s contents. Fortunately for me, Dredg seem to keep listeners like me in mind when making a behemoth album such as this. The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion, is full of finely crafted songs, any of which could be a single but all of which are strengthened when listened to in context. The first half of the album fares a bit better than the second half, largely do to an excellent trio of opening tracks in the lyrically biting “Pariah,” the musical edginess of “Drunken Slide,” and the undeniable swagger of “Ireland.” If you paid a full album price and only received these three songs, I’d be willing to bet that you would go home feeling satisfied. Other highlights include the more alternative “Saviour” and Jeremy Enigk-esque “Cartoon Showroom.”
Overall Dredg have crafted an album that goes deeper and gets better with each repeated listen. Much like King’s X or the aforementioned Jeremy Enigk’s masterful works, it takes few listens to really “get” this album but once it crawls under your skin it’s impossible to shake. The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion is a must for any fan of thoughtful, creative, and dynamic music that doesn’t forget to offer up plenty of hooks.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
