Darwin Deez is back with new album ‘Songs For The Imaginative People‘ and it sounds like what we have come to expect from NYC band possibly with an increased focus on production.
‘Songs…‘ opens up with “(800) HUMAN”. Bitcrushed and glitchy electronic drums accompany Darwin’s signature guitar playing, a smooth segue from his last album, sarcastically selling “what its like to be human” on a tv infomercial. Darwin is very adept at conceptualized songwriting and that makes this an excellent opener for Songs.
The third cut, “Moonlit”, initially reminds me of Paula Adbul’s “Opposites Attract” and somehow this is a good fit. The track is just as awkward as Deez.
By the fourth track, “No Love”, you have contracted Darwin’s contagious depression.
“Alice” feels the most quaint and charmy off the album. B-side production quality compliments Darwin’s frail, almost about to fall apart voice. It doesn’t have to be perfect! You can really feel the real Deez on this track. It’s also very welcome to hear accents of synths grace the track.
Sorry, I totally spaced out on “Redshift”.
“Free (The Editorial Me)” was definitely the best choice for ‘Songs’ first single. Darwin turns up the energy, switches on the distortion pedal, and noisily rocks out. He sounds confident. All I would have asked for is some other instrumental texture. The bitcrushed drums are back, and plays perfectly, but all the guitars are a tad bland. Btw, I LOVE the Darwin Deez drum fills.
Love “Chelsea’s Hotel”. Love the chopppy rhythm guitar. Love the cute lyrics. This song embodies the entirety of ‘Songs for Imaginative People‘. Bittersweet downtempo happiness.
Truth be told… Darwin, I miss your flaws! This new album with its clean and solid production, lacks some of the quirks and imperfection that I fell in love with on 2010’s ‘Darwin Deez‘. But this is far from a failure; this sophomoric effort feels like an exploratory pit-stop to bigger and more imaginative things (we can only hope!)
TRACKS:
