Oho, this fourth album by DEVON GRAVES and his dead tribe initially sounds unusually bumpy, but it grows after several listens. Subliminal grooves and sneaking hooks don’t captivate you right away but need some time to unfold.

Yet I don’t think that the overall work is quite as captivating and brilliant as “A Murder Of Crows”, the reference work by DEAD SOUL TRIBE. All manners of unusual ideas have been incorporated, which comes off as disturbing at the beginning. But then, uncommon tracks such as “My Dying Wish” or “Don’t You Ever Hurt?” emerge as the two highlights on “The Dead Word”. Very good, but not ingenious anymore. (Online January 25, 2006)