Drunken Prayer

There's something refreshing about Morgan Geer's voice. On "Brazil," the first track from Drunken Prayer's second LP, Into the Missionfield, Geer comes off as incredibly daffy, scruffy and, well, drunk. The revolving cast of Asheville, NC roots rockers play off Morgan's vision perfectly, delivering bar band dirges that burst with swinging guitars and ne'er-do-well arrangements. But once Into the Missionfield ventures into its second track ― by-the-books rocker "Ain't No Grave" ― it's apparent that Drunken Prayer aren't as transcendent as "Brazil" would lead you to believe. With the exception of a few numbers, like the bombastic, Jayhawks-esque chorus and spot-on lyrics of "The Missionfield," and lo-fi, Guided by Voices folker "Beachcomber," much of Into the Missionfield sounds frustratingly simple and unadventurous. It's a shame that Geer is stuck in the traditional working band trajectory, because there's character behind these songs. It's just muffled by the sounds of familiarity.