KP Devlin – The Occidental Taurus June 1, 2009 The Occidental Taurus is the 7th studio album from New York City singer/songwriter, KP Devlin. Scribbling out all 9 of its songs in a matter of a couple of weeks this past winter, and producing the finished tracks in only slightly longer than that, Devlin presents us with this album only a year and half after his last effort, 2008’s darkly humorous and whimsically sorrowful Year of the Snake. The first thing anyone will notice about The Occidental Taurus is, of course, its title. The pun, one worthy of a band like Squeeze (think 1985’s Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti) obviously references Anne Tyler’s novel, The Accidental Tourist, which was later adapted for film by director Lawrence Kasdan in 1988. However, there are no references to that story or any of its characters within the songs on Devlin’s album. When asked about this, Devlin’s response was, “I’ve heard of that book. And that William Hurt, he sure is a fine actor, isn’t he? But no, an Occidental Taurus is just a bull that comes from the west.” Indeed. The album kicks off with a literal thunderclap on the dark and ominous “Three Black Pelicans.” The song, filled with swirling middle eastern ambience, a driving rhythm section, and one of Devlin’s most intense vocals in recent memory, conjures up images of a stormy, apocalypse, in which “blood red liquid seeps up through the ground.” From there on, however, the majority of the album is much more bright and sunshiny in nature. The hopeful and inspiring title track follows, sporting perhaps Devlin’s most clever (and Dylan-esque) lyrics of all. Also included: a blissful love song (“Embroiled”), a down and dirty Tom Waits-infused blues number (“Blue Marlin Mourning”), a quirky and retro-tinged instrumental number (“Shampoo Party Zone”), and the album closes with one of the most inspired and powerful songs Devlin has ever written, a nearly ten minute long ode to the muse, entitled “A Call for Caroline.” The ensemble of musicians gathered for this album is impressive and eclectic. Though two of the songs are solo acoustic numbers, with Devlin’s vocal backed only by his lone guitar, the rest of the album features a rotating cast of characters including three bassists (Adam Armstrong, Kenny Aaronson and Graham Maby) three drummers (Sammy Merendino, Eric Halvorson and Dan Vonnegut) and two guitarists (Andrew Carillo and Dan Wray). We also hear Andy Burton on Hammond B-3, accordion and Mellotron, Jerry O’Sullivan on uilleann pipes, Chris DiMeglio on trumpet, Neil Thomas on harmonica and Amanda Thorpe, Sarah Bonsignore and Annie Merkley on backing vocals. The Occidental Taurus is definitely a worthy successor to Year of the Snake, and one that finds Devlin in what appears to be a more positive and content frame of mind. And that’s no bull.