"My name is Dave and I'm really from Mississauga / My parents are Croatian and I drive a Honda /I'm the furthest thing from bein' the real deal"
These lines from the tongue-in-cheek pseudo country song I'm Not Texan give a fair indication of the self deprecating nature of David Celia's song writing.
The cover image of him being pelted by tomatoes sends out the message that he does expect universal acclaim for this, his third album. But it's hard to think why anyone would be moved to launch fruit after hearing these gently humorous tunes.
There is nothing remotely controversial or confrontational about the content which display a charm and wit that at times feels like a cross between M.Ward and Loudon Wainwright III
"This burning in my heart won't go away" he sings on the opening track (Turnout), just one of many songs about being unlucky in love which he sings with tenderness and regret rather than rage or bitterness.
He invests his songs with lyrical turns of phrase that raise them above the level of 'I love you baby-why did you go' banality, as in the reflection that "it took a while for the sedative to kick into my heart" on the title track, which features an elegant string arrangement by Ben Mink.
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Crush is a another great song that compares the shy, nervous kid he was as a child to the shy, nervous adult he is now.
These songs also benefit from a group of fine backing musicians who play traditional instruments alongside horns and strings to produce nicely judged arrangements that are a blend of country, folk and pop.
An electronica tampura even adds a slightly Indian flavour to Running Out Of Time, a song where the closing sentiment - "Within innocent simplicity is the greatest form of integrity" - sums up is the philosophy behind this warm-hearted collection.
David Celia Website
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