Danielson

Quavery-voiced New Jerseyan Daniel Smith may have a singular vision, but he plays well with others. Ships, his new disc for the Secretly Canadian imprint, finds him in the company of artists with whom he's worked (or wanted to work) over the course of a career that's eccentric even by...

By Michael Roberts

June 8, 2006

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Quavery-voiced New Jerseyan Daniel Smith may have a singular vision, but he plays well with others. Ships, his new disc for the Secretly Canadian imprint, finds him in the company of artists with whom he's worked (or wanted to work) over the course of a career that's eccentric even by cult-artist standards; the sprawling cast includes Sufjan Stevens and members of Deerhoof. Yet rather than stand out as individuals, these players form a winning support crew devoted to bringing Smith's music to life in all its twisted glory, and they more than accomplish their mission. Smith can play it (relatively) straight, as he demonstrates on the affable love song/excuse "When It Comes to You I'm Lazy." Still, he's at his best when unleashing his childlike sense of delight -- a characteristic that links the charmingly bizarre "Did I Step on Your Trumpet" and "Five Stars and Two Thumbs Up," an apparent salute to the Ships passengers who sailed with him. There's no telling who'll be on board when Danielson performs alongside Woven Hand and the Wheel, but a good time should be had by all.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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