Ok, hands up: who actually believes we need more acoustic singer/songwriters, peddling perfectly adequate, if slightly unremarkable, folk-tinged ponderings laced with introspection? They're in every pub in every city every night of the week. There's at least one, maybe more, representing the 'local talent' at the bottom of practically every multi-band lineup in venues the length and breadth of the country. MySpace is chocca with 'em. And yet they continue to multiply. So, the question is, why would anyone want to listen to Darren Eedens' brand of 'upbeat folk music, filled with Rockabilly, Roots and Blues influences,' delivered 'with a tongue in cheek sense of humour'?
Well, perhaps because he's better than most, and because the humour - subtle, rather than overtly jokey, which tends to diminish an act to 'novelty' status - and various stylistic elements that aren't entirely standard do lift his songs above the humdrum.
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When he kicks things up a notch, as on 'Anchors High' (strategically placed in he middle of the album to break things up a bit), Eedens comes on like Neil Young, and to good effect. Mostly, though, it's business as usual. That's no bad thing, given that Eedens delivers exactly what he promises, and more than merely competently, not to mention urgency. Certainly well above average.
www.darreneedens.com
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