Dehd came out of the Chicago indie rock scene a few years back like a breath of fresh air. The trio, which consists of Emily Kempf (bass guitar, vocals), Jason Balla (guitar, vocals), and Eric McGrady (drums), has an energy to their sound that’s palpable. Each song sounds like an anthem to youth, life, and all the good and bad that comes with it. Kempf has a voice that aches and breaks and comes from somewhere deep and meaningful. And her vocals blend beautifully with Jason Balla, creating this wistful melancholy that nobody else does quite as well. Maybe Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker. Maybe.
Musically Dehd capture the spirit of early 80s alternative bands like REM, Violent Femmes, and the Feelies; as well as the Replacements’ punk-meets-pop aesthetic. But truthfully, there’s a special magic that Dehd possess that doesn’t come from influence. It comes from instinct.
The band’s newest album called Poetry is a big, grand coming together of everything the band has been working toward since their 2016 debut. Anthemic, jangly indie rock that goes from big city lights to dusty rural roads at the drop of a hat. It’s the summer album you’ve been waiting for.
The album opens on the grand “Dog Days”. It has big vocals and a driving rhythm with jangly guitars. It’s the kind of song that you can see open road in front of you and never want to take your foot off the pedal. Dehd have a knack for writing simple songs that sound like they’re hiding some significant knowledge about life. You need just keep hitting play and it’ll come. “Hard To Love” is a beautiful song, towing the line between indie rock and alt-country. “Necklace” touches on Replacements with a little nod to Steve Miller in the guitar sound. Jason Balla also sounds a little like the Reid brothers from Jesus And Mary Chain, and I’m not complaining.
Poetry is stacked from start to finish. There’s not a bad song here, and some truly great songs. “Light On”, “So Good”, “Shake”, and album closer “Forget” all help to make Poetry Dehd’s best album yet, and one of the best albums of the year.
Complex Distractions 