Reviews - Jason Darling - Losing Today

Don't know much about Jason Darling, one thing I can say is that he comes from a rich American vein of singer songwriters that seem to be popping up all over the place of late. It's a sect that are acutely observational in their lyrics, equally mixing realism with tongue in cheek humour, plundering rock n' rolls rich heritage. Darling draws similarities to both New Yorker Ben Vaugn and June Panic especially on the run out track but one 'Underground', in that they all travel the traditional rock routes you know the type loss, relationship breakdowns and infidelity but each adding their own spin on the proceedings. 'Underground' opens with affectionately humour filled 'Hip Hop Hooray' hey nice play on words for the title.

Mourning the lack of compassion of todays generation for rock n roll in this age of the now culture, even managing to have a sidewards dig at the Stones as well as name-checking Neil Young, can't be bad. 'Ride my train' is a more gritty, traditional take on the blues, managing to all at once bring the urgency of Presley's Mystery Train and the deft earthy playing of Howlin Wolf to mind. 'Broken Ashtray' maybe for its unexpected swearing, is by far the best track, an undercurrent of really cheesed off attitude, ultimately about a relationship breakdown. Mood wise it draws comparisons to Costello's 'What a Good year for the Roses.' 'Anything at all' is temptingly like Nirvana in a more mellow and poppier surroundings, you could have imagined the great Roy Orbison servicing this wonderfully had he been alive and the Wilburys project still on the tracks. The new wave of underground country rock may well be beating a storm, but the old wave sure can kick some ass, and Jason Darling is at the front of the queue with the biggest boots you've ever seen.

Back To Reviews Menu