by Patrick Pilch (@pratprilch)
Earlier this year, Joe Suihkonen (aka Joey Deal) covered The Beatles (aka The White Album) in its entirety, one side at a time. “This whole project is about appreciation for the songwriting on display,” reads the album credits for Side 4. I think Suihkonen’s simple words reflect The Deals’ simple MO: writing good songs.
Today, Post-Trash shares the first of many good songs from The Deals’ upcoming full length Clear and Severe. “The Levee” is a mid record burner, a wistful plea for an unspecific escape, a song sung sardonically and straight-faced by primary songwriter Joey Deal. The Deals’ “strong emotional center” can be traced back to Margaret McCarthy’s snug harmonies, Ben Cruz’s six-string versatility, but most definitely Joe Suihkonen’s natural ability for pop arrangement. “The Levee” is filled with rousing chord progressions and winking arpeggios, inducing nostalgia through palm mutes and pop-perfect minutiae. I really like the part when they bring it all back with the refrain about needing an ounce and a half, I think it’s great.
Sharing members with Options, Moontype, Joey Nebulous, Threadbare and more, The Deals are a bit of a Chicago DIY supergroup. Their upcoming record is a lovely batch of pop music made by musicians who play the absolute shit out of every track. The Deals got chops, but since live music is a no-go these days, you can watch the pair of live-to-tape cuts (am I saying that right?) on their YouTube page.
Check out “The Levee” below and be on the lookout for The Deals’ first full length in early 2021.