Self-released – Release Date: 10/23/20
Last month, Dave Hause released a pair of new EPs. One is called Patty and features covers of Patty Griffin songs, while the other, Paddy, contains songs written by Patrick “Paddy” Costello of Dillinger Four. This review will focus solely on the Paddy EP, as I am much more familiar with the work of D4. In a few words, Hause has done a masterful job of reimagining these songs in a stripped-down, acoustic fashion. His interpretations draw the lyrics to the forefront and illustrate just how relevant Dillinger Four’s message remains after many years.
The EP’s first song, “Minimum Wage is a Gateway Drug,” begins with a fingerpicking intro that quickly welcomes Hause’s powerful and crystal-clear vocals. The song was originally released in 2008 and its lyrics were quite fitting for what was happening in America during the Great Recession. It’s a bit uncanny how those words apply to today’s economy as well, where billionaires keep getting richer at the expense of everyone else. The song draws to a close with haunting backing vocals courtesy of Jake Blount, which really help to reinforce what’s being expressed.
The next entry is a moving rendition of “The Father, the Son, and the Homosexual Single Parent.” It uses tasteful piano accents to address someone who’s been raised in an evangelical Christian environment and the associated pressures of that kind of upbringing. Its lyrics build to what is easily one of the most emotional moments of the EP, (“All my life / Surrounded, unfounded / Like teachings taught as threats / I won’t forget”). Up next is Hause’s take on “Doublewhiskeycokenoice” and it’s a great reworking of what was originally such a fast and aggressive song. It also includes superb guest vocals from Lilly Hiatt and one of the record’s best comedic lines, (“So I sat there drinking more / thinking about drinking more”).
“Super Powers Enable Me to Blend in with Machinery” is a working-class anthem that is in no way clichéd. Hause’s earnest vocal delivery perfectly captures what it feels like to be beaten down by your job and to work too hard for too little pay. The EP ends with “The Great American Going out of Business Sale,” which is the last song on D4’s first album. The term “anthem” gets thrown around too often, but this is a real anthem that best exemplifies Dillinger Four. Its lyrics are both powerful and poignant, and Hause’s arrangement presents them beautifully, (“I have eyes that see, I have a mind that thinks / I have a mouth that speaks and god damn, it will / Because I’ve had enough of all this shit / About making do and playing ball, the way things are and dealing with it”). It really is crazy how a song that was written over 20 years ago can still feel so relatable today.
With the Paddy EP, Hause has creatively reimagined these songs and done so in a manner that showcases his vocal talents. The record also demonstrates how well Dillinger Four’s songs have aged with time. Additionally, it reminds listeners of just how badly we all need a new album from D4. Their last full-length was released over 12 years ago and given the current political climate, it seems like the perfect time for them to make their return.
