Acousmatic Sorcery
The story is a good one. Beal is said to have recorded this album on a karaoke machine with a $20 microphone while working nights as a hotel porter; he then promoted himself with hand-drawn fliers that included his home address and phone number. Whether the story checks out, the music here is primitive and evokes the sounds of Daniel Johnston, The Moldy Peaches, and lesser-known \"outsider artists.\" Yet the songs are surprisingly conventional once one attunes to the barebones sound. Beal\'s voice is pleasant, and his lyrics paint pictures in unusual cadences. \"Sambo Joe from the Rainbow\" takes Bill Callahan\'s downbeat approach and adds a touch of sunshine. \"Ghost Robot\" turns in a primitive rap song that makes Beck\'s lowest-fi recordings sound polished. \"Swing on Low\" goes even further into automated sound. \"Away My Silent Lover\" comes across world-weary, with \"Take Me Away\" turning to blues via Tom Waits. This clearly isn\'t for everyone, but for those who enjoy the unusual and a challenge, Willis Earl Beal is an enigma worth figuring out.
The gifted Chicago singer-songwriter and self-identified outsider artist makes his full-length debut with an often impressive collection of home-recorded material from the last several years.
The gifted Chicago singer-songwriter and self-identified outsider artist makes his full-length debut with an often impressive collection of home-recorded material from the last several years.
Like Lana Del Rey and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon before him, Willis Earl Beal is a singer-songwriter with a media-friendly backstory that’s something of a Rorschach test. The 27-year-old Beal recorded the songs that make up his debut album, Acousmatic Sorcery—among dozens of other tracks—when he was working nights as a…
Like Lana Del Rey and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon before him, Willis Earl Beal is a singer-songwriter with a media-friendly backstory that’s something of a Rorschach test. The 27-year-old Beal recorded the songs that make up his debut album, Acousmatic Sorcery—among dozens of other tracks—when he was working nights as a…
XL’s newest signing Willis Earl Beal emerged to the wider world via a video where he sings a cappella, under a bridge, wearing a vest emblazoned with the cynical slogan ‘cool new person’. An apt slogan for a singer whose tough past has been projected as the universal image of hardship, as a recorded and saleable commodity.
XL’s newest signing Willis Earl Beal emerged to the wider world via a video where he sings a cappella, under a bridge, wearing a vest emblazoned with the cynical slogan ‘cool new person’. An apt slogan for a singer whose tough past has been projected as the universal image of hardship, as a recorded and saleable commodity.
Beal’s story is unbelievable, but only in relation to the situation he now finds himself in.
Beal’s story is unbelievable, but only in relation to the situation he now finds himself in.
Willis Earl Beal aspires to be the new Tom Waits, and delivers avant-blues from Chicago. What's not to like, asks <strong>Hermione Hoby</strong>
Willis Earl Beal aspires to be the new Tom Waits, and delivers avant-blues from Chicago. What's not to like, asks <strong>Hermione Hoby</strong>
Willis Earl Beal 'Acousmatic Society' album review on Northern Transmissions.
Willis Earl Beal 'Acousmatic Society' album review on Northern Transmissions.
Beal's got a great voice and backstory – leaving CDs in public with his phone number attached – but the backing music is horrid, writes <strong>Michael Hann</strong>
Beal's got a great voice and backstory – leaving CDs in public with his phone number attached – but the backing music is horrid, writes <strong>Michael Hann</strong>