Devon Williams
Euphoria
It’s hard to imagine Devon Williams was once a punk rocker. On his sophomore full-length, the former Osker frontman delves deep into the world of jovial, psych-pop rock and comes away with a record that fully lives up to its title. From the bum-bum-bum opening of lead track “Revelations,” Euphoria recalls the sparkling, twisted pomp of genre purveyors like Harry Nilsson. But the comparisons don’t stop there. “Favor Tree” evokes memories of ’80s greats The Cure, while the sprawling guitars and harmonies of “Tower of Thought” captures Phil Spector’s wall of sound at its finest. Still, Euphoria never comes across as blatantly referential, thanks to Williams’s meticulous orchestrations and heartfelt deliveries. This is pop music done right, and its homages to the greats only elevate its staying power. Devon Williams plays Velvet Jones with headliner Tennis on Friday, December 9, at 9 p.m. Visit clubmercy.com for info.
