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Louisville, Kentucky isn’t where you’d expect a band like Digby to hail from.
With a pop/rock sound that breeds New York City intellectualism with infectious
melodic Brit pop, Digby’s debut on Toucan Cove/Label X, Falling Up, feels good the
whole way through. Some bands just have that gift of being able to sound like
100 different influences while still delivering their own unique sound, and
Digby is a prime example.
“Minerva” kicks off the record with a crunching guitar assault and the crisp yet
edgy lead vocals of Paul Moeller, blanketed by the tight production of Todd
Smith (Smash Mouth, Days of the New). “If You Only Knew” starts out like it’s
straight off a Semisonic record (whatever happened to them?) but morphs into an
infectious toe-tapper. “Too Late” has a New Wave/pop flavor ala the Cars and the
first single, “One Hundred Percent Free,” is a wonderfully bluesy, fuzz-laced
anthem.
“Falling Up to the Stars” is the unofficial title track and another example of
timeless pop/rock. “Keep Your Distance” is dissident yet compelling, with a bit
of a Coldplay vibe and Moeller sounding a lot like Paul McCartney when he
screams. “So Low” is as moody as it is melodic. There’s even a hidden track by a
completely different band called the Muckrakers, as Moeller disclaims before the
track, and it’s a nice bonus.
Sometimes bands come along that can write ear candy in their sleep, and that
appears to be the case with Digby. Together for four years, this quintet has a
mature sound that is cool enough for the kids yet smart enough for the geezers.
If you like solid rock bands that are fun, write good songs and transcend all
kinds of boundaries, you’ll want to seek out Falling Up.
~Mike Farley
mfarley@bullz-eye.com
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