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by Tony Pascarella Published: June 26, 2005
Daphne Loves Derby is a band that a lot of people have probably heard of, but not necessarily heard. That is, unless you're a rabid Purevolume user. The band has registered over 2,400,000 plays since they created their profile, putting them ahead of more well-known bands, such as Hellogoodbye (Drive-Thru), Hawthorne Heights (Victory), and My Chemical Romance (Warner Bros/Reprise). It's this sort of marketing that probably earned the band a majority of their fans across the nation. For their debut record, Daphne Loves Derby selected a producer already highly sought-after following his work with Gatsby's American Dream, Casey Bates. On The Strength Of All Convinced is the result of their hard work. Daphne Loves Derby Is: Kenny Choi (Vocals/Guitar) Jason Call (Bass/Vocals) Stu Clay (Drums) "Sundays" is an excellent start to this album. A piano-focused ballad, it will only take a few listens to ingrain it in your mind. Choi does an excellent job combining his guitar bursts with Stu Clay's drumming and the piano playing. It reminded me upon first listen of my favorite album this year so far, Copeland's In Motion. This one is really good, folks. This summer, you'll love to roll down the windows and sing along to the admirable "Hammers and Hearts." It has punchy instrument work, but Choi's vocals are velvety smooth. This is another song that will make you take a step back and go, "Wow." When Daphne Loves Derby strip all of the fluff from their songs, like in the simply beautiful acoustic "Pollen and Salt," they do extremly well. Other tracks integrate the acoustic guitar, but this is the only one to do it for an entire song. Another highlight of this album is the well-executed gang vocals. While Kenny Choi does have a great voice, Jason's harmonies are superb, especially on "Kirby." These guys have a habit of making a bigger impact on the listener than they rightfully should. Your first inclination may be to say, "Hey, they're good, but isn't this what all those other bands like Coldplay are doing already?" Sure, you can make the comparison, but it wouldn't be accurate. They have an extra edginess that helps the band soar musically. The production is simple and polished, but not so shiny it blinds you and detracts from the song--an technique that I think Coldplay might want to learn. The uplifting songs on this album are musically diverse, spanning from the piano ballad to the twangy acoustic to the full-bore alt-rock hit. That's what you'll get with "What We Have Been Waiting For," a song that I think can go out and bring in a huge number of new fans. It stands for itself atop glowing harmonies and Clay's drum work. Another example of their wide range of songwriting skills is the brief "If You're Lucky, No One Will Get Hurt." Choi's falsetto is a little irksome at times, but the second half of this one really rocks out. The argument can be made that On The Strength Of All Convinced might retread its own ground, and I can't say I'd argue. However, what they do manage to do is take those restatements and put such a twist on them that they don't all blend together. All three band members have assigned tasks, and each song sounds like they put their heart and soul into them. Kenny Choi lays down some excellent riffs, even though they sound a bit stale in a couple brief spots. He also sings his ass off. Jason Call's bass lines and backing harmonies are impressively done, and Stu Clay stands out as an exceptional drummer throughout the album. If you are a fan of bands such as Coldplay, Copeland, or other groups who play softer alternative rock, you'll most likely enjoy this eloquent release from Daphne Loves Derby. Will it make such an impact that your musical tastes will be forever altered? No. But On The Strength Of All Convinced is a stellar sonic effort from this band that deserves every amount of praise it gets. 
Recommendation: Give Daphne Loves Derby their fair shot; you might be surprised how much you like them. Genre: Indie/Alternative Rock Overall Grade: A- (92%) |
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