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O YE DEVASTATOR, the new album by Doug Burr Out Now!
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O Ye Devastator was co-released with our pals Velvet Blue Music in CD and Digital format and co-released with VBM and XRA Records on 12" Vinyl. The album was co-produced by Doug Burr and Britton Beisenherz at Ramble Creek Studios in Austin, TX.

ABOUT For those of you who are already fans of Mr. Burr, his new record "O Ye Devastator" is finally here. Help us celebrate its release! For those of you unfamiliar with Doug Burr, we think this will be a great treat for your ears and soul. Burr resides in the beautiful city of Denton, TX, and is by no means a stranger to making music. "O Ye Devastator" is his 3rd release with us, which is the proper follow-up to 2007's much adored, "On Promenade". Between these 2 records Burr recorded a project called "The Shawl", which was a shimmering and heavy laden vision of the Psalms. 

Doug has been building a steady fan base through each show, his songs appearing in TV shows, and an ever increasing amount of press. Opening for St. Vincent, Yann, Tiersen, Richard Buckner, and Great Lake Swimmers has helped as well. He began polishing most of these songs last year while on tour with Son Volt. Doug has explained the theme of the album to be American roots music rendered as sweeping scenes and story lines, antique, revelatory, and futuristic in scope. After a listen through the album, we think you'll understand what he's talking about. 

Burr returned to producer Britton Beisenherz and to Ramble Creek Studios to translate his live sound into studio recordings. The result is a natural sound, earnest and real. Basically, it's the foundation that Burr's career has been built on. The players that make up the rest of the band include Roberto Sanchez on drums, Todd Pertll on pedal steel and banjo, Glen Farris on keys, banjo, and guitar, and Britton Beisenherz on bass and guitar. The cross section of gentle guitars and banjos to dirty distorted guitars and driving percussion always find Burr's melodies in perfect step, though it also leaves us all with a sound that is hard to describe in print. Something we really feel is a great thing! 

Below are a few quotes from what others are saying. Doug Burr's music means different things to different people, though there's an underlying personal connection to each.We're anxious to hear what "O Ye Devastator" means to you. Thanks for listening! 

O YE DEVASTATOR PRESS:

"Like Tweedy, Ray LaMontagne, Jim James, Conor, Bon Iver, Josh Ritter and The Low Anthem's Ben Knox Miller, Burr may draw on the past yet he commands a compelling present day troubadour stance. Burr has released an exceptional collection of songs. Burr stands out with a unique sound and musical identity. And on his album, Burr balances slow burning, rootsy and pastoral songs and some rockers with great attention to emotional and musical detail. Fans of Neil Young's Harvest are likely to dig this new album from Burr." Some Velvet Blog

"a stirring collection of eleven new songs dotted with slide guitar, banjo, and Burr’s spectral vocals–a surefire pleaser for fans of both the Son Volt/Jayhawks school of rootsy alt-country as well as those partial to the folksy reinventions of artists like Devendra Banhart and Mark Kozelek." - Onetrackmind.com

KEXP Blog Free Mp3 - A Black Wave Is Comin’

KUT Austin "Song of the Day" 

WXPN Pennsylvania "My Morning Download"

KXT Dallas "Though the hushed vocals and rattling percussion might remind some of Sufjan Stevens’ banjo-fueled odysseys, Denton’s Doug Burr adds a strong Texan edge to this haunting song from his latest" - "Red, Red" Track Review.

"DEVASTATINGLY BEAUTIFUL: No matter what side of the contemplative coin you fall on, there is one thing that everyone can agree on about the music of Doug Burr. It is deeply personal, yet has the capacity to reach it’s listener at their individual need. With 2009’s The Shawl, Burr proved that the ancient and sacred texts of the Psalms are as relevant on the stages of smoky clubs as in King David’s court. Now comes O Ye Devastator, possibly his most beautiful to date. ...one of Denton’s finest performers" - NBC DFW

"Anyone who has ever heard his heartbreakingly gripping brand of folk knows the power his music can hold. His voice cuts through to the bone, serving as the centerpiece in a carefully crafted painting of a slower, more introspective time and place." - Dallas Observer

"a dusky and sweet voice somewhat similar to Ben Knox Miller of The Low Anthem and carries that same captivating quality that Ray Lamontagne has when he sings. It’s that power that makes you get lost in the music as if watching a spell-binding story unfold.” - Randomville.com

"mesmerizing tracks like A Black Wave Is Comin' and High Blood and Long Evening Dresses -- sneaks up on you in dazzling fashion." - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"songs so familiar you can't believe you've never heard them before." - Dallas Observer

For those looking to lose themselves for a short while, it’s probably not a good idea to listen to this album. Yes, the stories seem personal, but those told throughout O Ye Devastator are sure to conjure up memories of lost paths and forgotten ideals; they’re relatable. The good, the bad, the unmentionable. Anything you have had hidden deep within the darkest part of your soul, it is sure to come out as Doug Burr does the same through your earbuds of solitary confinement. But, really; is this a bad thing? So hear the wedding bells tone and the weather vanes crash as this nomad of alternative folk spins through its entire being, and you’ll be able to simply love being alive for a little while." "His voice is soft. His soul seems calm. He is Doug Burr, one the latest artists to develop the prominent theory of using naturalism and a far from tyrannical use of expressions to create vibrant yet subtle songs that make you feel….well, they just make you feel. His third release, O Ye Devastator, proves to be a perfect continuation, as well as a reintroduction to this man who sings with such an ease it will leave you planted right where you are with a sensation to do nothing but listen. And listen close. “High Blood and Long Evening Dresses” is a piano-based track that steals the show right at the very end. With an Elliot Smith wrist cutting sound, it creates a strange juxtaposition with a message of hope and a yearning for empowerment. All in about two and a half minutes. Not too shabby, and again, one of the greatest highlights of O Ye Devastator. - FensePost

"His latest is the one that will make both Paste and Pitchfork readers alike really take notice.His third (update: fourth) album O Ye Devastator was released last week and I very much like it. On the single Red Red, there is hardly a millisecond of the song that doesn’t have multiple interesting things going on musically. Dynamic percussion, hushed lyrics laid atop banjos and even a tambourine; this song is perfect. Pay attention to Mr. Doug Burr. He has earned your respect over the years and will never let you down. Doug Burr, I drink to you." - Party Ends 

"Doug Burr has released the best CD of 2010 so far."- Real Roots Cafe

"Doug Burr’s new album O Ye Devastator is so well-crafted and precise in every aspect of the music that it is the rare type of work that pays off immediately yet also becomes more rewarding after many listens. The songwriting is targeted at the chest and spine and Burr's aim is true from track one, “A Black Wave is Comin.’” He has a knack for hitting chords, notes and emotions that send a tingle through the spine and open up the lungs. Adding to this sensation is his band’s brilliant control over the dynamics. They never rush a crescendo or peak too soon, saving their loudest volumes for the moments that matter the most. In fact, the entire album is a perfectly balanced crescendo using the first five songs to build to the zenith of “I Got This Fever/ O Ye Devastator” and using the last five to come to a wonderfully soft close with “High Blood and Long Evening Dresses.” Throughout, Burr has brilliant control of his vocal timbre; he shifts effortlessly between a scuffed up, muddled, twangy and pure tenor. The differences can really be heard as “Red, Red” moves to “You’ve Been a Suspect All of Your Life.” - Triangle Music

"If you haven’t been paying close enough attention, then Doug Burr would have easily fallen under your radar until now. Sure, he’s toured with St. Vincent, Son Volt, Great Lake Swimmers and has been featured in the background of a number of tv shows – but the masses haven’t seem to swarmed quite yet. Well get ready. With O Ye Devastator Burr brings us Texas-based American roots music fully equipped with banjo, pedal steel, and vocals likened to Mr. Jeff Tweedy." - Dust Sleeve

"Anyone who has spent time with Burr’s music in the past will not be surprised at what they find on O Ye Devastator. In fact, they will get exactly what they’re looking for. For the uninitiated, the album is a perfect chance to discover what the fuss is about. This album doesn’t work just as an introduction to Burr’s music, but a culmination of his work thus far. It’s Burr’s finest and most accomplished album yet, and easily one of the best of the year so far." - Pegasusnews.com

"Exceptional Denton Troubadour" - Austinsound.net

"One of the most criminally overlooked performers working in the state, never mind North Texas." - Fort Worth Star-Telegram 

"The detailed attention demanded of the cover’s disconsolate bride must also be called upon when giving Burr’s album a circumspect listen. Burr, like most truth-seeking, musical poet-prophets speaks in the subtle tongue of sweet tones and acoustic warmth. That is something like my third or fourth language, musically speaking, and it demands my nonnative patience. Burr’s oeuvre feels half-cocked somewhere between lament and triumph. It’s the sort of stalemate that could as easily drive one to madness as awe. Burr seems content to live in that tension, expecting the listener to follow. The album reaches a crest, in theme, pace, and volume, with the titular “I Got This Fever/O Ye Devastator.” The song considers the possibility of holy devastation, wonders what comfort there is to be found in a God who breaks the backs of cedar trees. Is there a cryptic solace in the un-constrainable thunder storm? Burr’s answer: “Love ain’t love if it don’t hate.” - D Magazine

"I’ve been listening to Doug Burr’s new album O Ye Devastator for the past couple of hours, and each time through I’ve noticed different nuances. For those who are unfamiliar with Burr, he plays alt-country/folk that moves between very subtle passages and louder melodic soundscapes. Although there are a ton of artists playing this style right now, Burr’s voice and the depth of his compositions will ensure that his music finds a special place in many people’s collections. While it would be naive to pretend that vocals don’t matter in other genres, in alt-country/folk the power and pitch of a vocalist is more important than in other types of music. In these genres the majority of the space is filled up by the singer rather than the instrumentals, and because of this the vocals carry more weight. Thankfully, Doug Burr is more than up to the task as he has a wonderful voice that really grabs listeners and is sure to keep them absorbed in every single word. It also helps that he is a great storyteller and is also able to make it so that listeners will be able to relate to them. The songs on O Ye Devastator move between laid back alt-country/folk that has sparse instrumentation and more rock oriented songs that feature melodic and atmospheric arrangements. Although the songs may initially seem a little simplistic, if you look a little closer and really pay attention you will notice that there is a lot more going on than you initially thought. From the banjo arrangements to the other instrumentals that pop up amidst the melodic guitar riffs, everything seems very meticulous and precise and it seems as though every track has something just a little bit different from the last. - Cosmo Gaming

"...what a voice. This guy is blessed with one of those voices that just oozes with genuine sincerity. Devastator will no doubt end up on many "best of" lists for 2010. Top Pick. " Babysue.com 

"In order to succeed in the genre of folk/singer-songwriters you must have a great voice and great songs. In the case of Doug Burr, both can be found." Doug has a voice that cuts through the music and captivates the listener. This one of those albums where you find yourself sitting and just focusing on the music, forgetting about the world around you. The vocals are fantastic and the songs are great. One of the hidden gems of 2010. Impressive, Mr Burr!- Melodic.net

"Similar to Joe Pug, Josh Ritter and even Cory Chisel, Burr can go from in trospec­tive to anthemic in a few seconds flat with not only ease, but believability to boot. “At the Public Dance“...when that tune ends with a spacey, fuzzed-out jam that boasts all of the bombast of an Explosions in the Sky number, it can be hard to see where folk truly fits in." - American Noise 

O Ye Devastator is very well polished and possess that unique quality where it is both immediately likeable but also more rewarding after many listens. - Record Dept.

You might put Doug Burr in the same category as J Tillman and Rocky Votolato. - Patton On Music

Burr definitely has a knack for tugging on heart strings and demanding your full attention as he rarely reaches more than a whisper. It’s times like these that remind me that it’s usually the person speaking the softest that needs to be listened to the most. - The Muse In Music

O Ye Devastator is a ride; emotionally turbulent and above all, triumphant. It's a beautiful album from a songwriter deserving of widespread attention. - Capt. Obvious

Devastator shines the light brighter on the darker side of hope. - Holiday At The Sea

Ryan Adams, Damien Rice, My Morning Jacket singer Jim James spontaneously arise as points for comparison. If you're a fan of music from the names above, you can blindly buy "O Ye Devastator" because you will love this young troubadour and his wonderful songs. - Roostime Belgium

A Look Into The Making of O Ye Devastator 

Track Listing
1. A Black Wave Is Comin'
2. Chief of Police in Chicago
3. At the Public Dance
4. Red, Red
5. You've Been a Suspect All Your Life 
6. I Got This Fever / O Ye Devastator
7. Topeka
8. Do You Hear Wedding Bells
9. All Our Lives (instrumental)
10. And When We Awoke
11. High Blood and Long Evening Dresses