Devon Williams - Careerfree [or] Carefree
Artist: Devon Williams
Title: Carefree (or Careerfree, depending where you look)
Label: Ba Da Bing
It is uncomfortable to think about how drugging pop hits can be. Being in thrall of the latest hot singles is like being drunk. All I want to do is listen to that one song, or maybe a fabulous cover of that song, or maybe that other not-as-hot song, or its French version. Ugh, it is a downward spiral. Finally you reach that uncomfortable moment when you don’t want to be drunk anymore, and you have something important and more serious to do, and you have to stop and let it run out of your system. Which is why I can’t listen to the above linked songs anymore.
Instead, I want to talk about Devon Williams’s new album, which is a little more nourishing and even-tempered than my hit-single habit but still has that pop glow that will give you a nice buzz after a long day. This is Williams’s first solo album (he has previously been in bands like Osker, Lavender Diamond, Fingerscut Megamachine), and there is great potential in his song-crafting. At times he sounds like a down-tempo Apples in Stereo or a poppy Built to Spill. He reminds me of Marshall Crenshaw a little; he is able to weave several catchy moments into one song without beating you over the head with his hooks.
Devon Williams – “Elevator”
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Though I’m rarely a fan of what are often unnecessary string orchestrations in pop songs, I think it works here with the raw, reverberated vocals. I don’t really pay strict attention to the song’s structure because each section is engaging.
Devon Williams – “Stephanie City”
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This is one of those songs about nostalgic love that is both upbeat and sad. I’m glad that he has traded out the violins. This is great music for cooking alone at home. I think that is the best moment for this song.
If you feel the buzz, buy the album.
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