Dark Dark Dark - The Snow Magic
Monday, 22 September 2008 18:00 | Written by Tracy Farnsworth | 
Artist: Dark Dark Dark
Album: The Snow Magic
Release: October 28, 2008
Label: Blood Onion Records
Rating: 3 out of 10
The Snow Magic comes across as a very raw, unpolished album. It's clear that the band's sound has not been dubbed or overproduced because they sound live from start to finish. Dark Dark Dark consists of Todd Chandler on bass; Nona Marie Invie on accordion, piano and vocals; Jonathan Kaiser on cello and vocals; and Marshall Lacount on banjo and vocals.
The music is actually pretty good. It's catchy and has that Irish feel to it that I like. The problem I find comes with the vocals. They are not polished and sadly did little more than give me a headache with Invie's high pitched, grating quality. Sadly, I don't find her vocals to be impressive or enjoyable. The guys are not as bad, but even they come across as flat and unemotional.
{mosgoogle right}The lyrics are dark talking about issues from death (Ashes and Dig a Grave) to the freezing streets of New York, though even that song talks about freezing to death, in New York Song. Invie's vocals are probably best on Trouble No More, a song that also appeared on their first album. In the end, I'd like this album if I could eliminate the vocals, but that said, it's just not an album I'd listen to again.
Album: The Snow Magic
Release: October 28, 2008
Label: Blood Onion Records
Rating: 3 out of 10
The Snow Magic comes across as a very raw, unpolished album. It's clear that the band's sound has not been dubbed or overproduced because they sound live from start to finish. Dark Dark Dark consists of Todd Chandler on bass; Nona Marie Invie on accordion, piano and vocals; Jonathan Kaiser on cello and vocals; and Marshall Lacount on banjo and vocals.
The music is actually pretty good. It's catchy and has that Irish feel to it that I like. The problem I find comes with the vocals. They are not polished and sadly did little more than give me a headache with Invie's high pitched, grating quality. Sadly, I don't find her vocals to be impressive or enjoyable. The guys are not as bad, but even they come across as flat and unemotional.
{mosgoogle right}The lyrics are dark talking about issues from death (Ashes and Dig a Grave) to the freezing streets of New York, though even that song talks about freezing to death, in New York Song. Invie's vocals are probably best on Trouble No More, a song that also appeared on their first album. In the end, I'd like this album if I could eliminate the vocals, but that said, it's just not an album I'd listen to again.
