Adam Granduciel isn't technically from Philadelphia, but we can probably forgive him for that.
Soon after meeting Kurt Vile in 2003, the founding members of The War On Drugs took up residence in Philadelphia-and in Fishtown, more specifically. Anyone familiar with Philadelphia can attest to Fishtown's history as a working class neighborhood, and what harder work is there than trying to feed yourself as a musician?
The War On Drugs as a band began formally producing music under that name in 2005, with a lineup composing of Granduciel, Vile, Charlie Hall, Dave Hartley, and Kyle Lloyd. The group's first full-length album Wagonwheel Blues debuted in 2008, although since then, The War On Drugs lost Vile, Hall, and Lloyd and added the talents of Robbie Bennet and Mike Zhanghi to produce their second full length, entitled Slave Ambient, due out August 16th on the label Secretly Canadian.
In past as well as present endeavors, Granduciel's vocal comparison to influence Bob Dylan is unavoidable, as is the highlighting of the obvious impact of folk rock and its "On the Road Again" themes on the band's musical repertoire. However, even casual listeners will notice that their music is anything but simplistically defined. Often building slowly with quiet strum patterns, The War On Drugs is known for the layered effect of their solos and background samples. And although Granduciel will admit how he gets going- "I start all the songs at home on my 16-track 1 inch tape machine"-he keeps some of his tricks to himself. "I don't want to give away all the secrets," he adds, though he asserts that "the records wouldn't sound like they do if I didn't have a studio set up in my house-so much of the sound is the result of hours of messing around and experimenting."
The comfortable appeal of their sound, however, offers an interesting contrast to The War On Drugs' lyrical content. Thematically, it seems like Granduciel's monologue fights a constant battle between wanting to stay, needing to go, and ultimately having no choice: on the last track of Slave Ambient entitled "Blackwater," Granduciel croons, "your jaw will be locked from hornets and bees/ and you'll understand why I leave so suddenly with the breeze."
Undeniably the term "ambient" connotes many things, though rarely associated with Americana. Perhaps this is why, despite many reviewers' assertions of how easily the band's influences shine through in their recordings, what seems more striking is how seamlessly The War On Drugs also brings something of their own to the table. In other words, although at first they might remind you of that feeling you had at thirteen when you first heard Dylan in a coffee shop, this probably wasn't the reason that you kept listening.
And fortunately for those eager to get a taste of Slave Ambient, the band will be on a tour circuit shortly, at which time the audience can expect anything but the same-old from the group. Granduciel notes, "with me it's more a matter of trying to recreate the general emotion and vibe of a song rather than worrying about all the sounds that may appear on record. [...] I still do all the soloing though! Sometimes too much. Wait...never too much!"
Alternatively, a trip down the Market-Frankford El can take you to where Granduciel makes his magic. Despite its history, it doesn't take a realtor to notice Fishtown's recent socio-economic realignment towards the younger crowd. Granduciel himself admits that "now the new neighbors complain about the noise...something no one ever did before" when he first bought the house.
There's no news yet on whether he plans to take the next train to Anywhere-But-Here, but on behalf of Philadelphia, here's hoping he sticks it out with those irksome next-doors a little bit longer.
