Dead Man Winter
Furnace
Reviewed by: Tiffany Taylor
In the midst of the cold winter month of January, it only makes sense for Dead Man Winter to release a somber full length album, appropriate for that seasonal sadness blues. Furnace gives a window in the eyes of a man struggling with a major break in his life; a divorce and the aftermath that has on his soul and undoubtedly his family. Dead Man Winter is Dave Simonett who is also most notably found in the band Trampled by Turtles. Dead Man Winter is definitely a more personal venture and showcases the honest lyrical components of the songs more than anything. Specifically in Furnace, Simonett lays everything out for listeners to hear with his words and beautiful guitar melodies. The ten song LP is one of those albums that can be appreciated for its tired and true honesty against a rock/folk backdrop.
The album begins a lot more upbeat than the rest of the album. However, if you pay attention to the lyrics, the songs paint a different picture. We begin with “This House is on Fire,” a slow, acoustic track which belts out the name of the song, followed by “and I’m not getting out.” The entire track is depressing as it sounds but surprisingly not in a bad way. It keeps everything very minimal and light, especially for an opening song, which is best for letting the listener get a taste for the way the rest of the album is going to go. Following that is “Destroyer,” which is much more lively but talks about his marriage ultimately ending and him coming to terms with it. The most chilling line from the song is definitely the last “All I wanted then was to die, but you would not let me go.”
Things stay outwardly content as we get carried into “Red Wing Blue Wing” which mainly talks about himself and his life over a very simplistic melody. It is not the best track on the album especially in terms of composition. It makes sense for the track to be kept at third, because it honestly just falls to the wayside. However, “I Remember This Place Being Bigger” makes up for it tremendously. His lyrics, although short, tell a story that is haunting and creative, especially given the type of artist Simonett is, because in a lot of cases folk music can end up very simplistic and monotone.
The latter half of the album is where things become dark. “Cardinal” breathes pain and sorrow into the ears and makes me want to drink an entire bottle of wine. It can be rough to know someone who has experience the pain of divorce or any sort of heartbreak, so to feel the pain that Simonett feels through his music is a remarkable thing. The words “Nothing loose, no nothing at all, but the peace that the grave is bringing” still rings in my ears. “Weight of the World” is another ballad that cuts deep. His voice is the highlight of the track and ends up coming across as absolutely stunning. I am a sucker for a good acoustic song with sad lyrics: “The moonlight in your eyes, and then you’re gone.” The album finally finishes out with “You Are Out of Control” a seven minute track that is mainly instrumental and ended up being my favorite on the entire album. His lyrics are the most minimal of all in this song, which is perfect given what the song is about and that it is closing out the album. We’re left with feeling empty and cold, but as if a weight has also been lifted from our chests, and hopefully Simonett’s too.
Furnace is a house filled with packed boxes that are bursting with memories, pain, and bare walls. There is so much to feel and interpret from the album and so much to appreciate from David Simonett and his life. An artist is truly someone who can take their life and make something out of it for other people to see. The album, although minimal at times, was enriching and an experience I will likely not forget.
Rating: Listenable
