DEGOLEG

"Town Without Kitty"

SpiceFighters Studio

I can recall on multiple occasions driving past the El 'N Gee Club in New London, and seeing Degoleg on the marquis. Not knowing what they sounded like, and not wanting to part with my precious money, I never ventured inside. Hearing them for the first time, and having their CD now, I really wish that I would have taken a chance and seen them live.

Degoleg is a band that truly doesn't heed to any specific label or genre, the styles on this record range from the raw and gritty, to the dreamy and ethereal. The most unique thing about them is their blending of post punk/indie beats and rhythms with blues chords and melodies. This gives their music an even balance of both energy and depth. This record is far

more multi-layered than you would ever expect from a three-piece band. From the overlapping guitar parts on "Homes Of The Unfortunate", the softly sung vocals on "Impossible", and the contrasting bass and guitar parts on "Imaginary Time", Degoleg makes good use of harmonies in a world where music has become lamely one-dimensional. However, all musicianship aside, these songs are incredibly catchy in a way much like the Beatles, making this record at home in a collection including both the Foo Fighters, or Blind Melon.

This CD is a good choice for the listener that likes lyrics mostly about relationships, but doesn't mind just a little bit of social awareness in their music. Living in New London County, I can easily understand and connect with the lyrics in "Homes Of The Unfortunate" and "Nuevo

Londoneros". They speak of neighborhoods stricken with poverty, and inhabited by people searching for a better life. But these songs also recognize the diversity that comes with having so many cultures in one town, and how inspiring that can be. The lyrical delivery is done in a clean and usually soft sort of crooning with a cool tone to it.

When I first heard the vocals I didn't really think they fit the music- the music being distorted and fast, the vocals being clean and slow. But Degoleg has really created their own sound, and that delivery is definitely a part of it. As much as I was expecting raspier sounding vocals, the few times that there is a scream or yell, it seems somewhat misplaced and unnatural. They simply have a good lead singer, and that's an intrinsic part of who they are, and plays a big part in many of their harmonies.

Overall this was a great record full of diversity and originality. You really have to give credit to a band that is able to forge their own style, especially when they're a small local band. It's so hard to make it anywhere if you don't have a specific genre, or scene to attach yourself to. However, it is obviously possible for bands to be successful because of their originality, and in the end it's these bands that really matter. I highly recommend this CD to anyone who is sick of how homogenous both mainstream

and underground music has become. This record has given me a little hope for the future of music, and for that it deserves a good rating.

- Wyatt Shibley

***1/2