Lovely space-age Americana music

Decibully - Sing Out America!
(Polyvinyl Records)
4 stars (out of 5 stars)
Reviewed: June 22, 2005

Review by Tony Bonyata

Never mind their deceptive name, because loud, intimidating metal is about as far as you can get from the lovely, monumental sounds that emit from Decibully's third full-length effort entitled Sing Out America!
Mixing the hip country-twang of early Wilco along with the black-hearted folk of Nick Drake and the heavenly heights reached by Radiohead, the Milwaukee septet delivers a moving collection of songs that are atmospheric, engaging and, quite often, unforgettable.
While Decibully's songs bare the earthy stains of banjo, lap steel guitar and Rhodes organ, the compositions ethereally float above the Americana soundscapes - with numbers such as "Rid Of Me At Last," "Sing Out! Sing Out! Sing Out!," complete with the unbridled electric guitar sounds of Neil Young's Crazy Horse, and the catchy "Notes To Our Leaders" that are both real to the touch and eerily specter-like at the same time.
While the arrangements and musicianship are beautifully executed throughout, the band's secret weapon is singer William J. Seidel, who has one of the most beguiling, enlightening vocals in the business. Haunting harmonies weave in and out of the sumptuous a cappella gem "Temptation," after Seidel reaches deep inside himself to deliver the heartfelt falsetto of "Megan & Magill," along with the aching vocals of Thom Yorke on opener "I'm Gonna Tell You." While the band adds a bit more muscle on the rocking "Penny, Look Down," Seidel's pop tendencies become evident as he delivers a delicious, psychedelic Lennon-esque vocal during the number's chorus.
Melding roots music with space-age indie rock and sun-kissed with pop sensibilities, Decibully has produced an album that dares to be rivaled this year.