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Artist: Darling
Album: You Get So Alone at Times That It Just Makes Sense
CD Review: Label: Independent
Tracks: 16
Released: 2003
For Fans Of: Radiohead, Genesis, Yes, Coldplay
Fav Tracks: Troubled So (instr), tah-tah/Exitlude, Del Mar.

Headed by Ty LaRue Brubaker, Darling is a work in progress that started with Ty's goal of creating a 'faux brit-pop-rock' band. Featuring a core lineup with other players coming and going as needed, the majority of the songwriting, playing and aritistic direction is the work of multi-instrumentalist LaRue and his vision.

To that end, Darling have partially succeeded as you can easily hear the British influence all over their music. If it were not for the laid back, west-coast feel that is also strong throughout (they are from WA), you may well think they've skipped over from sistant shores.

Over 16 songs, many of them musical interludes - always a favourite of those 'theme album' Brits - many sounds can be heard, ranging from soft piano to buzz-saw guitar. All the while, however, a sound more reminiscent of analog recordings from the 70's is what you get.
While there are many interesting things going on here, there is also enough to disinterest me and leave me thinking this CD is just an average attempt at best.
The musical interludes are sometimes great, but other times drab & droning.
The vocals are sometimes interesting, but sometimes mundane, especially the spoken parts. I enjoyed the cutting, higher vocals the best.
The guitar mostly just serves it's purpose, but delivers more emotion than the other music.
Melody takes a back seat to an attempt at piecing together unrelated pieces too often.

Overall, I felt like with each song, there was an initial great idea, but then something else took over and the song got forgotten in the end. Many great, simple melodies are lost & buried here. Simplicity & repetition aren't always the enemy in catching a listener's attention. The flippant songwriting style here shoots down any chance of not only commercial accessibility but also of creating interest on repeated listens. After listening, I actually couldn't remember any one distinct melody to hum - and I believe that is Darling's biggest weakness to overcome. Get my attention and keep it!

There is more than enough experience, talent and groove here to create the music they want to while being distinct - something they still do accomplish with this CD, by the way.
It's not all that bad, it could just be so much better.

Contact: Ty LaRue Brubaker