Eugene Debs just got a little closer to world destruction. On From Mansions to Dry Lake Beds, the well-known socialist is just one of the real-life-but-not-really characters that populate the new album by Shipbuilding Co. That said, Debs is still 11 songs away from any nuclear tests.
While it's not all history, the atomic story of Bikini Atoll does close the release, and the conflict of the Spanish Civil War also finds its way onto the expansive and unpacked-over-many-listens record, twisted somewhat by songwriter Michael Partington's creative license. Bandmate Lindsey Bradley says, "Only the events and names and places have changed," with a laugh, before making the comparison, "It's like a Disney movie."
Take a quick look at the liner notes included with the band's LP and you'll see just how many stories Partington manages to fit in 12 songs. To the observation that his songs are wordy, he asks, "Are they?" as if it's a bad thing. But what makes From Mansions to Dry Lake Beds a complex but fulfilling listen — on top of the layers and layers of instruments, changing time signatures and unconventional song structures — are the stories.
Watch as Partington, Bradley and Patrick Bradley — "no relation, only by marriage" — answer a few questions in lieu of their other two band members, drummer Dave Ozinga and bassist James Reilly. See the band play a free show tonight starting at 10 p.m. at Yia Yia's with Universe Contest.
Michael Todd is Hear Nebraska's managing editor. He's on the list for the show tonight. That's what you get for being a hard-hitting journalist. (Note: The show is free.) Reach Michael at michaeltodd@hearnebraska.org.