ALBUM REVIEWS
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ALBUM REVIEWS |
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Darker My Love
ALIVE AS YOU ARE DANGERBIRD RECORDS 28.07.10 @www.vanguard-online.co.uk
Falling somewhere between The Byrds and The Beatles due to their use of three-part harmony and steel guitars, “Darker My Love” successfully shattered any expectations I had about their genre within the first few seconds of track one – I can honestly say I was expecting all-out metal, and was somewhat surprised! What we actually have with “Alive As You Are” is a west-coast feelgood album that will fit nicely into any version of guitar-based Indie/pop that you care to mention. Allow me to illustrate: Exhibit A: Track two, “Split Minute” starts uncannily like “Hey Mr Spaceman” by The Byrds, and continues along the, ahem, ‘jingle-jangle’ route Exhibit B: Track three, “18th Street Shuffle” sounds like one of The Strokes’ slower numbers Exhibit C: Track four, “New America” sounds very so much like a John Lennon song I thought it was a cover Exhibit D: Track six, “Maple Day Giveaway” Beatles-esque to the extent that you want to wobble your head in time and play air-Rickenbacker. Now, this may not be an exhaustive list, but I think you get my point. Soundalikes aside, this album stands on its own as a good mood lightener, but lacks a bit of substance. After several listens, I can’t say I’ve really taken anything from it (melodically or lyrically) and I begin to doubt how much I could actively listen to it. Unfortunately, “Darker My Love” have created the sort of album that is great to receive for free, but a bit disappointing if you part cash for; a background-filler party wallpaper snooze music. www.myspace.com/darkermylove |
