Search - The Deathray Davies :: The Kick and the Snare

Coming Into Focus

George a Pletz | Central PA, USA | 09/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is a impulse just to say ditto to the last good review. However, I will venture to explain what is so fantastic about this release. I've been following the band since The Day of The Ray. And while I liked that album, I could not help but feel that it fell short. The lyrics were intermittently interesting and the music just did not have the fusion of a REAL band. At the time, if pressed, I would have said that it was somewhere between Beulah and GBV without the post punk meets Genesis vibe or some many horns. In other words, a distant cousin to E6. Credible and good but somewhat lacking. Here, however, is different deal. Pushing the power pop to the front, tightening the lyrics, and using there past influences for accents, The Deathray Davies really stand out here. This is the point where a band comes into its own as a unit and not just a project. Whether or not this will lead to further heights or disappointment remains to be seen. Like so many later day indie bands, it comes down to interplay. And here it comes in spades. From the driving opener ( A Theme From Augusta for the 21st century.), through the post Ramones New Wave crunch of "Plan to Stay Awake", the tiny lo-fi moments made large of "Stumble" and "In Circles", and right down to the ambtious quasi-Motown stomp of "I'll sing a Sweeter Song" and the decidely Pavement pop punk of "Chainsaw", this album shows a rare group that can master the mid-tempo sound with an enough variety that you don't think they are playing songs that all sound the same as a group that has mastered a very supple style within a specific sound. This, my friends, is a sound that can simply be called rock. And of the highest caliber. The only album I like better than this in the 2005 class is Spoon's "Gimme Fiction". This is album is a joy. I think I am going to surf it but always wind up staying from start to finish."

That settles it...

Thomas Javoroski | 12/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I just heard two tunes from this album on NPR tonight, and I was considering buying it. After reading your review, J. brown "Mr. Snacks", I have decided to buy it. Any band hated so much by a 'labeler' such as yourself is bound to be good."

Another stellar drd album

kbarth17 | Luckenbach, TX | 05/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the kick and snare is more straight ahead garage rock with killer organ/keyboard riffs and excellent guitars, the lyrics remain clever and just plain and simple this rocks, if you're reading this then you already know, the drd continue to amaze."