Album Review: Deeds & Debts

Deeds & Debts is the second full studio album by the Swedish band Pat Razket, a member in good standing of the Swedish Pirate Armada. I mention this because I think you can see the influence the Armada has had on the band since their previous album, Legends & Tails, from layout of songs to an album focus that tells a story. For a band who is relatively young, first album came out in 2016, the trajectory they’ve taken will make them and the Armada to the very top of the pirate music world.

I would be hard pressed not to mention two songs that are not on either album, but were released as singles in 2017. Black Sails and Recruiting Day are so dynamic and fantastic that would be crown jewels on any album and you should definitely go out and buy them via iTunes, Spotify or any other music provider.

We start the album off with “Come on Home” which gives us a nice traditional sound to start. There are some beautiful lyrics and riffs that meld into a very solid opening song, especially for a pirate album. I am particularly a fan of the brothers in blood & misfits crews lyric. As a believer of having the opening song give a good first impression, especially of what the album is all about, this definitely succeeds in that goal.

“By the Law” brings in a new singer and I love that kind of variety when you have a band with multiple vocalists. When it’s a pirate band it definitely gives the feeling of a crew. “By the Law” has an interesting mix of traditional and modern sounds that definitely conveys that idea of pirate life the narrator has started. It delves in the why of pyracy, how they found themselves in this life. It does remind me of the Musical Blades song “Johnny Home”, very similar subject manner. A beautiful violin solo, which if you’ve read any of my previous reviews you know I’m a sucker for.

Up next is “The Debt” which brings us another new singer! Three songs in and the feeling of a pirate crew is strong and I’m loving it. A personal pirate story with some beautiful lyrics, namely the reap what you sow & drunken like a horse. We also are introduced to a squeeze box on this song, which is always appreciated in a pirate band. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it reminded me of a song The Dreadnoughts would do and I mean that in the best way possible. The end tempo is absolutely fantastic and really brings it home. Hit a home run with this number.

They continue knocking it out of the park with “Hangman’s Noose”. We start off with a lovely mix of wind and guitar that sets up of the song beautifully and still continues that pirate crew feel. As a firm believer of songs should tell stories, especially pirate songs, Pat Razket is hitting their stride now on the album. I don’t know why but it feels like a good mixture of two of their previous songs, “Black Sails” & “Pirate’s Lullaby”.  The use of two different vocalists makes for an interesting duet. We again have brilliant lyrics, close eyes as noose pulls tight.

“Troubled Mind” sounds like a weathered sailor spinning a tale, which obviously continues the pirate crew feel. There is some excellent violin work in this song that is a great story about life on the sea for a veteran sailor. The tempo at the end of the song makes it feel like the end is new in this sailor’s life.

We do love drinking songs here at the Inn so “Drink My Way To Heaven” is definite addition to our drinking sets. It is the first not purely pirate song on the album, which is not a knock on the song at all. For me it specifically sounds like a new Irish drinking song. It has lyrics plenty of us drunks can get behind. I mean, drink my way to heaven and never sober up, yeah we can all get behind that message.

“The Crew of the Flying Dutchman” has a great transition from “Heaven”. The audience noise makes it feel like a pub with a beautiful violin being played, makes it the perfect follow from “Heaven”. Another not strictly pirate song, but is nautical. It begins as a sailor song about starting out and life on a ship. The music is fun and upbeat which runs a bit counter to the lyrics which I kind of dig. This is definitely a song you can dance a jig to during the chorus, but remember the song name. This is a song about the Flying Dutchman; great lyrics that have tragedy and treason.

The Swedish Pirate Armada uses sound to amplify albums and “A Cursed Night in April” is a great example of that. Rain and a squeezebox together, love it, gives a fantastic atmosphere to the song. A lovely example of a song that tells a story; for example silver and gold fills a rich man’s purse but also comes with a curse. I’m continued to be blown away by the lyrics on this album. This song feels like the pirate attack in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie if it was told as a song, in fact I would be shocked if that wasn’t the intended goal. Having not seen the band in person, yet, I’m going to assume that this song is great fun and a huge sing along at their concerts.

“Tonight We Die” continues the play along of violin and guitar that we’ve heard a bit on this album. Again it brings me back to their song “Black Sails”, and is almost as good as that song. To me it feels like a good concert opener, but is positioned right on the album. There is something missing from this song for me, but I just can’t put my finger on it. Everything seems to be working and it could just be that it followed “Cursed” and it isn’t striking that same cord. As with everything it may just be a personal taste, I know we do have listeners who absolutely adore this song.

“My Love For Thee” invokes that Irish feeling in me with the guitar and flute start, which is appropriate for a love song. As mentioned I am a fan of songs that tell stories, we also know I am a big fan of bawdy songs. Bawdy Irish Love Songs? Sold. The usage of multiple instruments is blended really will in this song, and am a big fan of using the word nymph which is sadly missing from our lexicon too much these days. A tragic love story that is absolutely fantastic.

Now “Hoist the Colours” means a great deal to the pirate community so it’s always a pleasure when a band puts their spin on it. A lovely interpretation that takes the song at a faster pace and uses a variety of instruments not usually accompanying this song. It reminded me of a bit of a Romani feel with all the different instruments which I really dug. It is also not as somber as most versions of the song so it was much more an interpretation than strictly a cover.

We end the album with “Sleep Sleep” which should be no surprise that it’s the only place the song logically could go. What Ye Banished Privateers started on their last album, Pat Razket has continued here, a beautiful slower number. Perhaps it will become a signature of Swedish Pirate Armada albums. It feels like a lullaby and plays on the similar themes as various traditional sea shanties but definitely their own twist.

Deeds & Debts is a fantastic example of how I personally feel an album should be arranged, tell a story, and invoke specific feelings in a listener. I just checked my records and this album has a higher rating than any other we’ve reviewed so far, and that includes First Night Back in Port. One final note, it also probably the best packaging I’ve ever seen on a pirate album. If you have the chance make sure you pick up a physical copy; you won’t be disappointed. Now go out and buy the album!