Genres:
Indie-pop, Indie-rock, Electronica, Indie-folk
Release:
UK- March 10, 2014 on Deram Records
US- April 1, 2014 on Decca Records
Last year, I was watching a video on YouTube when I noticed a suggested video with an interesting thumbnail titled “Dan Croll – From Nowhere.” I decided that I was bored and clicked on the video. Little did I know that I was in for delightful surprise. This song by English singer- songwriter was fascinating, musically varied, and fresh. It arrived as something completely new at a time when the music industry needed some new music. When I finished listening to the song, I tried to purchase the album online, but I couldn’t because Dan Croll didn’t have a finished album to sell. He was testing the waters as he prepared for his full-length LP’s eventual release in 2014. Now, his first album Sweet Disarray is finally here and ready to please eagerly awaiting fans.
“From Nowhere” opens the album with a journey into a musical style I’ve never heard before. This song blends elements of indie-rock and pop to great effect. While these have been combined before, they have never been blended in quite this way. Track number two, “Thinkin Aboutchu,” offers even stranger sounds that feel both old and new at the same time. Something about the notes gives the sound a slash effect, and I love it. The next track, “Wanna Know,” continues the trend of good and interesting music. Croll sings in a distinct high-pitched voice for the majority of the third track. Next, he delivers a fast, karaoke inspired tune with “In / Out.” It’s fast, fun pop. Then he returns to his normal pitch to deliver an indie-pop, folk hybrid in “Compliment your Soul.” The fast drum beat and warm vocals make this track stand out.
The next three tracks move the album from fast paced electronic sounds to slower, lower sounds. Croll’s sixth track “Only Ghost” is a more traditional indie-folk song. The acoustic and electric guitars blend to deliver a friendly song. The next song marks the biggest shift in the album. “Can You Hear Me” opens with piano chords that sound like they came out of a well-produced hip-hop song. Then, Croll’s slow vocals are introduced to the song. Croll focuses his effort where it counts to create a cool, minimalist track. Finally, the next track, “Sweet Disarray,” stands out because it sounds nothing like anything else on this LP. For the majority of the song, Croll uses his voice and guitar to create a song that feels both sad and happy at the same time. This ambivalence carries this song on its shoulders until it reaches the end where synthesizers close the track.
The last songs on “Sweet Disarray” make up the weakest part of the album, but they are able to recover to deliver a satisfying conclusion. “Maway” is the weakest song on the track, partially because it is so different in tone and instrumentation from “Sweet Disarray.” The shift is too sudden. The next song, “Must Be Leaving,” is better, but it can’t regain the height of “Sweet Disarray.” The album begins to recover with “Always Like This.” The track is fun and fast, but it isn’t close to being among the best in the album. The album fully recovers with the final song, “Home,” a song about Croll missing the feeling of stepping in his home and inviting friends over. The track ends the album on a high note as its personal lyrics and warm acoustic guitar actually make you feel like one of Croll’s friends at a private house concert.
The Verdict:
Every track on this LP grows on the listener with time. Even if I didn’t initially like individual tracks, by the end of the album, I loved each song. The best songs are very different from anything I’ve ever heard before, and “Sweet Disarray” might be one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. I loved this album, but it did have some problems. Besides “Home,” the final tracks lacked the punch they needed, and most of the songs, while lyrically different, focus on the same subject matter. While these problems do affect the quality of the album, and Croll’s music is very different from other artists, you shouldn’t be deterred from listening to Dan Croll’s expertly fashioned first album. I look forward to more from this young and talented English artist.
Score: 8.5/10
