There's something about hearing someone singing a little like Jeff Buckley that instantly makes you wary. It's a tough comparison, and few have come off it well. Lucky for DARBY CICCI, then, that there is a lot more to his album than one easy reference. It's not an album that would necessarily impress you on the first listen – it sounds competent and quite interesting. Three or four listens makes it something you want to invest in.
The first thoughts on the vocals when 'Self Surgery' kicks in is that this is someone who has enjoyed a spot too much 'Hallelujah.' But that doesn't last for long as other influences seep in, and you're thinking of Thom Yorke for a moment, or Andrew Bird for another, and then you think maybe he just sounds like himself – passionate, heartfelt and always melodic.
'Gunsmoke' has a great chorus, the vocals are soulful and the song weaves around. It's damned catchy, how you would have liked a Kurt Cobain solo project to have sounded. 'Culling Song' steers away from being a standard four-bar piece – it's a song with a continuous melody running throughout, but the jerky guitars will prevent anyone from being able to dance rhythmically to it.
At many points this album is both intelligent and emotive – this soul is one to believe in. Feeling is evoked with just the simplest of words. 'To Repel Ghosts' opens with repeated line “I told you not to be here when I got back from work today.” If your average novelist could set the scene in so few words, well they'd be brilliant. If you're missing Elliott Smith, give this a quick spin and see if it can fill the void.
There are moments that could just fall into the more general category of alt-rock. 'Twisted Reality' is anonymous in and amongst some of the better songs on the album. That it stands out for not being that interesting says more about the quality of the rest of the collection.
It should be noted that all of the instruments (including the powerdrill on 'On The Horizon,' which is highly confusing if you're listening to this for the first time alone at home, wondering who on earth is doing DIY very nearby) on this album were played solely by Darby Cicci, which is quite an achievement when you listen to how grand some of the arrangements are (for example, on chaotic epic 'Sidewinder'). Cicci has taken on a fairly limited set on influences and had a bit of an explore. At times it seems like elaborate grunge, but mixed in with the ever popular disaffected young male. If Nirvana have proved to be an influence at all, then Nirvana should be proud, and also relieved to know that not everyone is out there to bastardise their legacy.
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'Minus Green' is available as a free download – so go find him on Myspace and make sure you give this a listen. On 'Long Way' he hopes “Maybe if I made good money I wouldn't have to see this place again.” He won't do it offering his wares out for free, but the benefit is for you – listener. There has been a nice lineage of disaffected young American males that manage to mean something to often legions of equally disaffected fans. Darby Cicci is a welcome addition to this fold.
A pithy summary? This is M Wards older, slightly grungier brother. 'Minus Green' is brooding and moody throughout – it creates images and tells stories, but most importantly it engages you at all times and often fascinates. In a pile of review CD's lacking in originality or any redeeming features, this has been a true joy. It's always reassuring to know that some people still mean it.
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