My dominating thought about the Darts’ EP “Pay
the Operator?” Thank God it’s only five
songs. Granted, I realize punk rock is chiefly about
attitude, but as a fan of pretty much every genre,
I gravitate to music that SOUNDS good. I will admit,
the Darts have written some decent songs, but weak
production and performances don’t allow them
to shine.
Energetic opener, “The Great Break,”
is ruined by a terrible mix: the drums are almost
inaudible when the full band comes in. Still, Chris
Minarik’s screamed vocal leads the way in a
powerful chorus that is the highlight of the EP. “The
Rose,” while relying on the same chord progression
for both verse and chorus, at least makes it a somewhat
catchy chord progression. But “Sweet November”
is a good example of how the Darts lack in tightness.
The performances here and on all songs remind me of
a band of early teens who are still learning their
instruments and haven’t yet started working
on timing issues. A few attempts to play guitar hero
are misguided; their fingers just can’t move
that fast yet.
I have no idea how old the members of the Darts are.
Perhaps they are in fact teens and still learning
their instruments. After all, “Pay the Operator”
was self-released, so they are clearly early in their
careers. There are some redeemable moments on this
EP, so I hope Minkarik and company will continue to
improve their craft and eventually put out something
a little more enjoyable to listen to. But for now,
I wouldn’t pay the operator for this.
Key Tracks: The Great Break, The Rose
Reviewed by David Baker |
