Archive for Friday, February 27, 2009
CD review for Feb. 27, 2009
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Dent May
"The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele"
Dent May makes a big deal about appealing to his mostly college-age audience. Or at least it looks that way from his track listing - "College Town Boy" and "At the Academic Conference" jump out.
But listening to those songs, it's clear May is aiming a little bit older - like, maybe graduate students. "College Town Boy" is about a guy who's lingered too long in town with no real job and no direction. "At the Academic Conference" is about being at a meeting so boring the singer becomes obsessed with someone across the room. "You Can't Force a Dance Party" is about trying to impress a girl by getting guests at a party to dance (something most don't realize is impossible until the party gets more low-key).
As his debut album title suggests, Dent May makes good-feeling music with his ukulele. "26 Miles (Santa Catalina)" is a tropical 1950s throwback; "God Loves You, Michael Chang" puts doo-wop bass behind lyrics about a former teenage tennis star; "Meet Me in the Garden" junks together an intro before it introduces a mixed-up love story.
The record fizzles after "26 Miles," with two ending songs that don't do much to lift May's sometimes lounge-singer-esque vocal style. But "Good Feeling Music" is a brave, kitschy debut, even when it fails.
Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5
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