DARLAHOOD, based in New York City, but creating music in upstate New York, where they have time to do so (instead of spending all their time trying to find a studio in the city where they can work) is made up of Luke Janklow (guitars/vocals), Joe Magistro (drums/background vocals) and David Sellar (bass). Listening to their album, "Big Fine Thing," it's a little hard to believe all that music comes from just three guys! Holed up in a dilapidated mansion in Upstate New York doesn't leave much else to do except make music - if you're a band. These three have definitely found their musical soul mates, and have created some awesome tunes that are truly rock 'n roll. Some people find this strange, since rock has become so fragmented and categorized, but there's no alterna/pop/metal/whatever here. Just rock in all it's glory.
Janklow is fanatical about his NYC urban roots. "It's an amazing place to grow up," he says. "It's like a tall building is as natural as a tree. It's a weird physical thing. It's the best amusement park for when you're little, and best place for being bad when you're a bit older." Apparently it's not the best place to write music though. Although DARLAHOOD'S debut album is full of the sound of jackhammer rhythms and traffic jam ferocity, Janklow warns "You can't try and get that 'New York Vibe' happening. It has to seep out." And the band has removed itself a good 100 miles from the city to get to work. According to Janklow, "The isolation has created a 'laboratory situation.' With their living room always at their ready for making music, the band could jam out a new idea whenever the inspiration hit them. In the process, they've created one hell of a debut album!
This debut CD from DARLAHOOD most definitely rocks out. "Grow Your Own," the first single from the album and also the first cut, is a no holds barred, in your face message, that will probably go over the heads of most of the people that listen to it. People, this is about taking charge of your life, not growing your "own!" It also starts the album off with a bang! Moving the pace down a few notches is "99% Bulletproof," a heavy rocker that pretty much describes what it's like to live in Manhatten where the band is from. The line "You never say you're bullet proof," is certainly apt for any urban dwellers. This song also has some really awesome instrumentals at the end. It's still hard to believe so much music comes from just three guys. Power trio indeed!
The second single from the album, "Sister Dementia" was released in February of this year, and the descriptive qualities of the lyrics are brilliant. The music ain't bad either. I can certainly imagine running into a 'sister dementia' on the streets of NYC. DARLAHOOD'S most recent success is also the next song on the album. "Big Fine Thing" has been added to active rotation on MTV. The title track of the album is something for rock lovers to be thankful for. This is a very rockin' song on an already totally rock album. The band requests that you call MTV and ask them to play the video - over and over! The announcement about the video comes in conjunction with the addition of several more tour dates with "Collective Soul."
For a change of pace, the rock ballad "Runaway Clocks" follows "BFT." I'm impressed with the imaginative lyrics to most of DARLAHOOD'S songs, and this one is no exception. "Loaded, lonely, aimless and pristine/You don't know what you've done sweet thing/'Cause you're always like the circus three rings over the big top/Now everywhere you look you see runaway clocks." Some fancy guitar licks intro "Watch Your Mouth," a minor key, moody piece that's perfect for the instrumental accompaniments. I found this dark song extremely interesting. I'm a sucker for great instrumental combos, and this song sure has them, along with a bang up ending.
The next song has a real psychadelic quality to it. Especially in the intro. "De Nature Boy" mixes a lot of musical styles in one tune, and the best parts are the instrumentals. "Not Again" is a power ballad with a melancholy sound and some heavy lyrics with oblique references to drug use. "New York City" has to be a band favorite - after all, that's where they're from. And the rap at the beginning says it all - "I wish I was in New York City." There are some really great jazz influenced instrumentals in this number, along with a monotone melody line with the rap. Another change of pace leads into "I've Got Pictures," a rockin', bluesy number, with both a great melody line and equally great instrumentals. "RSVP" is an instrumental showcase. If there was any doubt these guys could PLAY, it's erased by this song. The vocal portion is kinda of bluesy rock again, but the instrumentals take center stage.
The last number on the album, "Hey Baby (Take Me With You)" starts off with a bit of acoustic twang, and is played on acoustic guitar - the only song obviously acoustic. This one also lets some of the harmonies shine through, and crosses almost into the country rock genre. It's quite an interesting change after all the rest of the songs on the album. And that about sums up "Big Fine Thing!" There's not much else to tell you except this band is definitely going places, and they have a smash debut on their hands - a rarity in this business. If you don't have it already, check it out!
