The Beat Surrender

Dave Derby And the Norfolk Downs is the second solo album from prolific New York City songwriter Dave Derby. Well, that’s what it stated on the album cover, prolific I think that means he writes a lot of songs, doesn’t say if any of them were any good

He also used to be part of Lloyd Cole’s backing band, now I’ve heard of him so this may have something to offer. Opening track Come on Come on doesn’t quite hit the mark, it’s an inoffensive alternative rock type number but with no sparkle. Beaten Down has a bit of the punk about it, starts well enough but fell short of the finish line. It left me feeling that it hadn’t been finished properly, I kept expecting it to get going but it just didn’t.

Oh True was as boring as I thought was possible to be, how wrong was I. Overnight Low was so dull and dreary I did actually fall asleep. Even In Darkness is a bit of an improvement, the tempo moves up a notch, perhaps this is going to be an album of two half’s? Sugar and Violet shows some promise its American Alternative Country meets rock, not too bad. My Back Issues is more country/folk but unfortunately back to dreary, dull and boring.

Olivirie has a better sound and feel to it. Rock rather than folk/country, faster beat which seems to suite Dave Derby’s vocals, which aren’t really that, strong. Occasionally sound off key when he does the slower stuff. Sunset Sublet goes back to dreary, dull and boring, probably the worst track on the album. Never Leave continues this theme nicely.

Last track You Got To Go is slower and is very country/folk influenced but somehow this sounded ok, perhaps I was becoming immune or was ecstatic the album was at an end. However, two more bonus tracks to listen to. First was Baby, now this really wasn’t bad at all, definitely American style country/folk but it had really unusual synth, good twists in the music and vocals. Albuquerque had moments when I thought this is it, it’s building up to something quite interesting but then it slipped back to the dreary, dull and boring theme.

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