cezanne

It's strange that the trajectory of indie-rock has recently abandoned the once-trademarked standard of fuzzed-out sonics and endearingly sloppy guitar melodies. Cezanne's mini-album Breaking Bats For Jesus sounds like it could've come out of Chapel Hill or Charlottesville circa 1993, but the songs have a power to rise above mere-throwback status and into their own post-slacker stratosphere. Cezanne is the now-NYC based one man band of John Daugherity, who has previously recorded under the name Ten Everlasting Seconds. Possessing a voice pitched almost flawlessly between worn and ragged, and airy and smooth, these seven songs instill fond remembrances of past peaks set by folks like Chavez, Archers Of Loaf and Pavement. No-nonsense indie-rock and roll like this is pretty hard to find nowadays, so why don't you let Cezanne transport you back to better days? All tracks clean. - Fanatic Promotion

John Daugherity's trash guitars and broken-down vocals achieve "lovely" by the same dropout arithmetic as the early '90s indie-rock that buzzed around grunge. Indeed, Daugherity's only major break with those atonal-because-we-wanna acts is a welcome one: he can actually sing. - Download.com

Written by Kristen Brown
Every fan of music, every lost soul who wanders in and out of record stores and flea markets looking for beat-up, old copies of new favorites, understands the binding dilemma that comes with mainstream music. Everyday it’s nearly inescapable: the hype, the shiny, polished advertisements, the great reviews by big-name magazines, and the insistent twice-an-hour radio play. With all the surrounding, deafening buzz, it can become quite a burden to form an unbiased opinion. But with an indie album, the possibilities are endless. You may get an opinion here or there, a short listen, or sometimes absolutely no introduction at all. And because there’s no reason to live up to frighteningly high expectations, indie artists have the freedom to create honest and stripped-down albums. Cezanne absolutely took this opportunity and ran with it.
With his sophomore release Breaking Bats For Jesus, Cezanne (a sneaky alias of John Daugherity, who has also gone by Ten Everlasting Seconds) has proven that over-production does not an album make. The no-frills album flows in with a cool, mellow vibe that practically dares any listener to resist sitting back and chilling out. The unique sense of space the album holds, combined with the perfectly placed vocal harmonies, give Breaking Bats For Jesus the feel of a live gem you’d find in a smokey bar late at night in an exhausted city. Daugherity’s droning vocals cast a numb haze over steady sounds to create the perfect blend of nonchalance and artistic interest.

But what really gives the album its genius is its ability to fit together perfectly. There’s no struggle of energetic beats paired with lazy vocals, or over-dramatic lyrics that give a sense of slow and painful death. Breaking Bats For Jesus is simple, discreet, and best of all, interesting. With such a laid-back sound and even vocals, it’s essential that somewhere a sense of emotional investment can be found. Cue Cezanne’s introspective lyrics. Although sometimes difficult to fish out among the hypnotic beats and nice riffs, quality simplistic words with more complex meanings lie in the album’s inner core. With lines like “so I stare at the stars wishing I could be there” in “Everywhere With No Direction”, and “like a child I am wild and forgetful” in “After Trial”, Cezanne proves that Breaking Bats For Jesus isn’t nearly as simple as it sounds.

Out of the seven carefully crafted tracks on the album, it’s difficult to pick one as the best. “I’ve Got So Much” showcases Cezanne’s nice harmony work, while “Memories Don’t Work” runs cool and dreamlike, sending quiet, unconscious vibes of being Radiohead-esque at its core. “In Snow” is infectious with its lighthearted sound and not-so-lighthearted lyrics, and “Two Wings To Fly” lights up the album with a casual feel, and a matter-of-fact ease.

Breaking Bats For Jesus is what an indie album should be—surprising, uncomplicated, and easy to let in. In fact, its even best absorbed with no expectations and no fuzzy haze of critical opinions. So as grateful as I am that you may have taken what you’ve just read into consideration, don’t take it too seriously, and give yourself the chance to be pleasantly surprised. - cdreviews.com

I was immediately attracted by curiosity to the artist Cezanne and the album Breaking Bats for Jesus, while browsing Rhapsody. Curiosity paid off this time, as the album is a perfect blend of the indie aesthetic. This album simmers along walking the tight line between a mellow vibe and an all out rock assault. The opening track "I've Got So Much," is probably the most likely to get radio play and is a fine example of Cezanne's work. The psychedelic influenced "Memories Don't Work" satisfied my 60's leanings. "Two Wings to Fly," however, is my favorite track reminding me of Kurt Cobain on Prozac. This music definitely deserves a listen. - The Covalent Bond