Album Details

• Artist: Me And Cassity
• Album: Appearances
• Label: Tapete
• Year of Release: 2011
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2011-11-29

Written over the past year in many a European hotel room, the songs on "Appearances" feel like they have been with us for a long time. Dirk Damstaedter is also equally at ease solo and with a band. Me And Cassity is his band moniker; whatever he calls himself works for me. These are literate pop tunes with a sense of humor and a feel for the classic. Damstadeter writes songs that are positive, richly melodic, and often effortlessly poetic.

"Time To Put The Hammer Down" channels Ryan Adams and Westerberg with wry, jaundiced lyrics and memorable melody; it features excellent harmonica work too.  "Bring It On" is a kind of an abstract but gorgeous country tune, downbeat banjo-driven melody. In contrast, "The Last Troubadour" offers jaunty pop, full of great harmonies and 70s organ and horns; groping for the Beatles and occasionally finding them.

There are three songs worth the price of admission that would be played for years on the radio in place of The Eagles in a perfect world. "This Side Of Tomorrow," "Fred Astaire" and "Lovers of Solitude" are minimal but sweeping, anthem like and intimate at once. Brilliance like this is reassuring.

"Me And Cassity's" ten tracks are dizzying in their confidence and pop sense. Dirk Damstaedter deserves a huge audience; he probably won't get it, but if anyone deserves word of mouth love, he and his record do.

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