Theory of a Deadman's "Angel" Flies Along Gracefully

Some days a warm full bodied hug gives you the lift you need to carry on when hopelessness knows where you live and constantly leaves its underwear on your door knob. In musical form Theory of a Deadman opens its hearts and arms to us with "Angel" Usually I'm the first one to slam a band for erring on the one-dimensional side where chord choice goes but here's a song where the subject matter justifies staying in one zone completely. We get greeted by a guitar that's already smart enough to ease us into the fray with patience. This isn't easy content to absorb. Tyler Connolly approaches the mike seeking to open his weaknesses to any and all bold enough to listen. He's in love with the title creature. Problem is he's got a hard time letting go, a commonality for us all particularly when our connections run deep. Impressive for certain is the chords are warm color wheel approachable. Despite the broken wing themes brought up by the song there's no need to fear inching forward to let some of the unchecked vulnerability rub off. At one juncture during the chorus Tyler's voice arcs in the perfect place merging power rock with masculine sensitivity. He's coming to grips with having to let the angel go. None of us could honestly say finality comes naturally. It's a state of being we have to learn on the fly. The pathos drips off the band's performance. In the beginning Tyler's love for angel comes through clear as mud. He follows up his declarations with the introspective under the microscope peek lots of artists have and likely will continue to engage in. Dave Brenner lights added fire through guitar played in the guise of the stalwart warrior. Joey Dandeneau quietly drums not demanding much screen time in this tear jerking drama. Dean Back rates MVP status because you strip bass from this finely tuned up chassis and the ride doesn't roll nearly as fiercely. Tyler throws in what Al Franken's Stuart Smalley would call "stinkin' thinkin'" He wonders if he's crazy, weak, or possibly blinded by what he's seen. Regardless of the profile he assumes, he isn't her soldier. Letting her fly away proves a formidable task to undertake. I give him credit for revisiting the wound instead of denying it was ever put there in the first place. Not that his angel lacks potentially unraveling quirks of her own. She's afraid of the light, not useful if angel is on your resume. Despite the broken halo, she's got fight in her eyes. What perseverance in such a fragile creature. Put in getting down to brass tacks terms the two of them likely are helping each other to leap over the hurdles keeping them from evolving. He'd like to say goodbye but bravery isn't forthcoming. She needs to soar but her halo's broken. The healing potions spring steadily from verse after verse. As therapy sessions go "Angel" excels at understanding what articulate means. By the time we get to the last chorus repetition we sense both parties have just enough inner strength to carry out one of the most difficult things a person is called on to do...say goodbye to someone we care about. Theory of a Deadman applies the jaws of life with a steady hand on the tiller. "Angel" soars without veering too far out of sight that we can't thank it for deigning to spend some of its time with us.