Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 3/5 Released: November 14, 2007 Reviewer: David Coats |
A sophomore release from Louisville, Kentucky’s Digby was unlikely to say the least; after the band’s debut effort, Go Digby, proved underwhelming, the band went through a series of events over the following three years (divorce, death, and changing personnel) that threatened to sidetrack Digby permanently. The band proves its resiliency with the release of What’s Not Plastic?, and also proves that sometimes starting over isn’t a bad thing.
The five-song EP proves to be a departure from Go Digby’s overt 60s influences, instead opting for much more of a 90s alternative tinge. ‘New America,’ opening under the shadow of distortion-drenched guitars, is a poor man’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,’ without Cobain’s generation-capturing scream, and is without question Digby’s heaviest and most credible pure rock song. It’s indicative of much of the record in its weariness, containing little of Go Digby‘s sense of fun, but featuring a greater lyrical bite and a greater sense of overall purpose. ‘Self-Evaluation’ contains a familiar chord progression and soaring chorus, and, if not for its alt-rock guitars, could easily translate to any number of bands and genres. The melodic melancholy of ballad ‘Bad Swing’ is a highlight the band can be proud of. The band definitely takes itself more seriously here than on their debut, and the good decisions made in production and mixing indicate this maturation. The best part of this release is its immediacy; the songs hit you the same way on an iPod as they would if you saw them performed live, amps at full volume.
Basically, this is Digby’s attempt at starting over. For all intents and purposes, this is a new band attempting to determine what it wants to be and how to go about achieving that. Though this EP is only a first step in the process, What’s Not Plastic? provides a more solid foundation to take off from.
