aaamusic | On 07, May 2012

Did Bobby Darin just rise from the dead and make a come back as an indie-pop act? This record oozes 1950’s rock’n’roll. It’s a degree heavier than the 1950’s but the retro appeal of this album is utterly charming. The sound is distinctly American, walking the same sidewalks of New York as the aforementioned Bobby Darin.

Devin takes rock’n’roll teenage romance and amps it up with electric guitars. The album starts with Masochist and quickly zooms into roaring guitars and vocals which echo Elvis and Darin who came before but with more strength and a heavier rock sound. The expectation of the album title quickly disintegrates, the vocals are charming but are far from smooth or anything you would expect from the word romantic, cheeky and endearing but in a scruffy, cigarette-stained way.

The entire album follows the theme of retro teenage romance. The heavy riffs calm down for Born To Cry, with swooning harmonies and melodic guitar riffs. Devin masters the themes teenage heartbreak and 1950’s heartthrobs. The album is wonderfully crafted.

New Horrors has more of a percussion base to it, but the 50’s guitar licks are still omnipotent. Pretty much every song on the album is well crafted enough to be a single, every song is laced with insanely catchy elements, from handclaps to harmonies.

The heavy electronics step down for In My Solitude, a typical croon of the teenage blues, although a few angsty guitar riffs do pop up in the song. I Died is more energetic with recurring harmonies on the chorus and catchy guitar lines.

Things get ultra energetic with You’re Mine, soaring guitars and strong vocals show Devin at his best. White Leather is probably not the best song to end the album with, the same strong vocals but with more subtle instrumental, a base of light percussion and muttering guitar. It’s good but is far from the best song on the album.

Overall, a very interesting take on 1950’s rock’n’roll, although there is a lack of originality. However Devin pulls the style off very well. It’s quite a long album and a little bit repetitive but it’s definitely worth checking out the first few tracks at least. If you have a nostalgia for 1950’s rock’n’roll but with a heavier twist, this is the album for you.

★★★★★

Rose Benge