Hailing from Texas, Deep Snapper give listeners A Drowning Man Can Pull You Under, a roiling ten track album that pops the whole time that it plays with nary a downtime in sight. Okay, maybe there are some slower numbers but they augment the record. After reading about them being similar to Dead Kennedy's mixed with the Minutemen, I am fairly skeptical about what Deep Snapper actually sounds like because those are two pretty disparate groups for comparison. So, seeing as, or in this case anyway, hearing is believing, A Drowning Man Can Pull You Under begins on the stereo.
A Drowning Man Can Pull You Under contains some genuinely awesome moments that really shows off the capabilities of Deep Snapper. But that songwriting is not always there, instead there is an inconsistency in the material that detracts from the record's bright spots. Some of my favorite moments on the album are the beginning to "The Bald Eagle is Man's Best Friend" (nice full sound), the verse and bridge in "Befuddled" (the vocals really work with the groove in the verse and the timing of the bridge), and the whole song "Don't Worry He is Going to Die Anyway." Maybe because the vocals consistently gel with music and truly fit the upbeat (probably a misnomer but oh well), quirky, and irreverent nature of the song; the vocal hook, "And when you die / You'll find your life / Has passed you by" is damn fine and makes the song.
Normally, Scene Point Blank enforces rules on records or albums that are older than six months, or at least not in the calendar year by a non specific point, in an effort to stay current. But a handwritten note (in an age of glossy promo photos and record label/ public relations firm one sheets or electronic press kits) that gives some indication regarding the personality of the band, goes a long way in speaking to my inner luddite. Deep Snapper seemingly make music because they genuinely enjoy or have a need to make their music, and for that, the band definitely has my respect. A Drowning Man Can Pull You Under, specifically, does give hints of a band that incorporates some early punk sounds, which definitely creates a throwback vibe to Deep Snapper without being derivative; with some more consistent and strong material, Deep Snapper might prove to be onto something.
