This is an open forum for staff members, contributers, and fans alike to submit their reviews on the latest music releases and concerts. In an industry that is drowning with overprocessed, grossly overrated, unoriginal crap these days, this is our chance to allow the real stars to shine, if only on our humble, little stage; and expose you to some of our favorite talents.
Reviews are given 1 - 5 stars.
1. Frustrated UnNoticed
2. Your Girlfriends
3. Up To You
4. Feel Bad Vibe
5. Overchay With Me
6. On My Mind
7. Carwash Romance
8. Driveway Blues
9. At the Mall
10. You And I
11. Leave me Alone
Well, as some people might say…it ain’t rocket science…
Waltham, Massachusetts based Damone takes their handle from a character from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and the music seems to be half punk, and half music stuck in that generation. And it works well.
Frankly, Damone can almost be seen as a solo project. Originally, Damone was known as “Noelle” named after lead singer/Guitarist Noelle LeBlanc. As a matter of fact, over half the album is played solely by Noelle and the original producer of the album. However, after most of the album was in the can, a decision was made to change Noelle to “Damone.” Damone was then formed with Noelle and three others, most notably the songwriter for all of Damone’s songs, David Pino. Pino wrote all these songs years back, in attempts to impress a girlfriend who had left him. Noelle merely changed the gender of the songs.
Zep 4 it’s not. Pino writes about times had while working at the Waltham Car Wash, chasing his girlfriend, and times they spent together. But it’s a damn fun album. It sounds like the Go Go’s on steroids. Another treat on the album is the guitar work. There are unabashed shredding guitar solos on the album, which is something you almost never see these days from a punk oriented act. Noelle sings the songs confidently, and makes you wish that she was carrying the flag for the mall punk rockers, rather than Avril “Who is David Bu-we” LaVigne. One quarrel might be that some of the songs tend to run together. Even if the song begins with a different tempo or rhythm, by the time the chorus hits, the tempo speeds up to relatively the same tempo. The only song that really differs from this tempo is the final song Leave me Alone.
One of the album’s highlights comes from a duet between Noelle and Pino. Entitled “At the mall” the song is 3 minutes of pop heaven. Unfortunately RCA records, wouldn’t know what to do with a rock or punk act even if Led Zep reformed with a Lazerous like John Bonham. RCA has yet to work a single to pop radio/rock radio or any radio frankly. Also, promotion of the band thus far has been nil.
Damone is currently on the road with Hey Mercedes and Sense field.
Best Songs:
Frustrated UnNoticed
On My Mind
Driveway Blues
At The Mall
Avoid:
Nothing.
Reviewed by: Mike Gorman | September 2005
