There is simply not enough laughter in indie rock. At face value, a genre so often associated with pain and sadness — an introspective reflection of self through pen and paper — doesn’t blend well when mixed with comedic themes. When it does, and in the case of Adam L. Reed (known musically as Shepherds & Sailors), it’s the mark of a sharp songwriter. On his most recent album, released earlier this year, titled Wicker Cathedrals, Reed accumulates years of work into a grab-bag of time-and-place records.
Photo courtesy of Shepherds & Sailors on Facebook
On “Wicker Cathedrals,” the title and intro track, Reed makes his style and influences known. His voice is wailing and passionate, reminiscent of NMH’s Jeff Mangum, and his method of musical presentation is chord-forward. On records like “Darby on Derby Day” and especially “Hunter Bay Cafe’,” Reed’s…
