Damone – From The Attic
by antiGUY
Damone
– From The Attic
Label: RCA
Records
Rating: 
I can already hear the derision that this
CD and band will produce. The tendency will be to write the group off automatically
since they will be viewed as yet another female fronted pop-rock group,
ala Avril with a band. Or worst Blink-182 with a female lead vocalist.
Not so fast! Such assumptions are
bound to be made but if experienced with an open mind, then Damone actually
offers up a lot more than meets the cynical eye. Avril’s foundation
is derived mostly from hype as the anti-Britney, immature lyrics sang with
a Jr. Alanis style and the focus seems to be more on Avril’s fashion than
the music.
Damone on the other hand is simply a cool
young melodic pop rock band that just happens to have a female lead singer.
As a result the focus seems more focused on delivering melodic, hook driven
songs than what lead vocalist Noelle is wearing.
The songwriting is geared towards the basics
with big melodic choruses but there are some surprises as well, like the
semi guitar solo in “Up To You” and some solid drumming and ample guitar
leads thrown into the mix at just the right times.
The music is a bit too pop oriented to
make Damone fit into the same category as Sleater-Kinney or The Donnas.
Instead they come across more as a young female fronted modern version
of Cheap Trick. Noelle delivers some really strong and melodic vocals
while the group’s secret weapon seems to be David Pino’s ability to pen
classic power-pop gems set within the framework of modern pop-punk. Don’t
get me wrong, Damone isn’t yet another pop-punk band, while there are some
similar elements to that much derided genre’ Damone takes a more old school
approach which ironically makes them standout against their contemporaries
as something fresh and new.
While the suburban children of the 70’s
fell in love with the pop prowess of Cheap Trick and could relate to songs
like “Surrender” and “I Want You To Want Me”, kids of today may find a
similar charm with Damone; a band that is strong on melody but also heavy
enough to be rebellious. They should also readily relate to the lyrics
and the songs seem like the perfect backdrop to cruising around with your
friend and having fun.
Fun is indeed the order of the day with
Damone. This isn’t a band centered around skater fashion or gimmicks but
actually a pretty solid young power-pop band that reminds us after a decade
of overly serious and depressing music that rock n roll started out as
something fun and yes while it is sometimes frivolous, it none the less
reminds us to ask ourselves the perpetual question of youth, “Are we having
fun yet?” If you can relate to Damone, then chances are good that
you will answer that question with a big smile on your face while your
toes tap along to the beat.
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Want
more?
.
Visit
the Official Website to learn more about Damone
Listen
to sound samples and Purchase this album online
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