Darwin Deez - Darwin Deez

We’re not ones to judge music on what the protagonist looks like, but will you just look at Darwin Deez. It’s impossible to say this without sounding nastily judgemental, but he looks like a complete and utter berk. The Hall & Oats moustache, the string bandanna. Does he not look in the mirror and think to himself ‘Well, I look foolish’? Still, we’re regardless of this, we’re here to look at his music, and rate it regardless of who’s behind it.

Darwin Deez’ music is unoriginal, samey and altogether rather pleasant. Overall we have to say that the man is intent on trying to be a one man Strokes. Not a band known for their amazing technical prowess, it could be argued that trying trying for this is hardly a lofty goal, but worse things have happened in the name of new music, and Darwin Deez carries it off. Just. Across the self titled album the vocals drawl in a manner that’s become synonymous with Julian Casablancas whilst more often than not the guitars are coated in the same fuzz as Albert Hammond Jr.’s and play the same handful of chords.

Lending the record a more tropical and poppy air however, is the drum machine which backs up Mr Deez’s creations. This saves ‘Darwin Deez’ from being a flaccid indie rock album and sticks it firmly in oddball pop territory. This being the case, it’s the songs that really matter, and these which save it. ‘Constellations’ proves a fitting opener and with a sweet chorus is an album highlight and single ‘Radar Detector’ is three minuets of pop mastery that belongs on a BBQ playlist. Albums like this need a floaty wistful track and here we’ve got ‘Up In The Clouds’ filling in that slot. Again, in the grand scheme of things it’s nothing life-changingly special but it’s more than a little listenable and pleasant.

The only real misfire across the ten songs is ‘The Suicide Song’ which sounds too similar to ‘The End Has No End’ to register as existing separately to it. But when closer, ‘Bad Day’ spices up the album a little it helps to leave a positive impression on the listener. With a bit more guts it bolts a Graham Coxon style guitar line to a hip-hop setting on the drum machine and feels a hell of a lot more fresh than the preceding songs.

If Darwin Deez had maybe tried a bit harder with his first release we might be able to give it some more marks out of ten. Perhaps it’s because the weather is finally taking a turn for the better after a long winter that we’re looking so kindly on a record that really lacks distinguishing features but ‘Darwin Deez’ is an album to put on the iPod and enjoy on some summer walks. Granted you’ll forget about it when autumn begins (or when The Strokes fourth record comes out – whichever comes first) and probably never listen to it again, but providing you have no problem with the inherent disposablity of blog-pop then you could get a kick or two here.