Sing with David Singer

Just released this last week is David Singer's fourth album, East of the Fault Line, which was recorded in David's hometown of Chicago. Its ten tracks fit like your favorite well worn garment - and I mean that in a good way. There's nothing here trying to stand out as six degrees from the beaten path, rather David writes songs that smoothly flow from beginning to end. The instrumentation provided by his backing band is solid and well orchestrated and offers music which builds and falls in well regulated fashion that provides a stage for David's vocals...which is where the real draw of the album lies.

Range-wise, David's voice overwhelmingly reminds me of one of the Johns from They Might Be Giants (I apologize for not being able to tell you which voice fits which one of them). It's a kind of voice that doesn't seem like it should work in front of a rock-ish type band singing earnest lyrics with great depth...but it does, and does well.

Take Amaranthine (offered below), the opening track of the album, which has grabbed my imagination and has yet to let it go. I'll be honest with you and admit I had to look up the word to see what it meant: eternally beautiful and unfading; everlasting. It sounds like a generally positive word yet in its context in the song, it seems to focus on the complexities and problems in life that are unfading, and not necessarily the positive aspects (especially of love). It seems that what is eternal is the search to make meaning of of this thing called life that we stumble, scrape, and pull our way through. This of course, is only my bumbling grasp at putting meaning to the song. Listen to it yourself to revel in its depth.

The rest of the album offers lyrics equally worth plumbing for meaning and connection. If you like what you hear, and you're in the Windy City area on Saturday, October 20th, David and his band will be playing a record release show in Chicago at the Hideout. If not, then just get the album now and cross your fingers for a tour.


David Singer - Amaranthine : East of the Fault Line

David Singer - (I Don't Want You To) Stay : East of the Fault Line

Visit his website and become his friend on MySpace.

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They Might Be Giants - Kiss Me, Son Of God [Alternate Version] : Miscellaneous T: B Side / Remix Compilation