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Deer Tick came up out of Providence in 2004 as John McCauley's solo project before hardening into a full quartet with Ian O'Neil, Christopher Ryan, and Dennis Ryan. They run indie folk-rock, alt-country, and blues all through McCauley's ragged, lived-in rasp, the kind of band that built itself on the road across War Elephant and Negativity. Emotional Contracts landed in 2023 as their first record in six years, with Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev) twisting the dials toward a warm, classic-rock Americana register.
No festival history to point to here, so we will be straight about the connection: we are pressing Emotional Contracts as a Levitation Edition because it earns the wax. A 3-color blue, red, and yellow A-side/B-side variant, limited to 250, the kind of thing we want on our own shelves first.
Six years away and Deer Tick come back loose and confident, leaning on the band-in-a-room feel Fridmann captures so well. McCauley's voice does the heavy lifting, scuffed and unguarded, while the rhythm section keeps everything rolling instead of fussing over it. Forgiving Ties is the easy standout, all groove and grin, and closer The Real Thing sends it out on a high note that justifies the long wait.
Far Out Magazine landed at a fair 2.5 out of 5, calling it enjoyable but familiar, and that read is honest. A couple of lyrical turns lean a touch on the well-worn side, and not every track reaches as far as it could. But familiar Deer Tick is still very good Deer Tick.
That is exactly why it belongs on vinyl: a warm, played-in Americana record that rewards a full sit-down, sequenced to flow side to side. The Fridmann production has real depth to dig into, and our 3-color pressing gives that texture a home worth keeping.
Recommended if you like: My Morning Jacket, Joel Gion, Christian Bland & The Revelators.
