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Selected Review - Amplifier

Jason Darling's wonderfully off-kilter, somewhat melancholy first track, "Hip-Hop Hooray," is so perfectly written, so beautifully realized, that it alone makes this disc worth owning. Rarely does an artist come along who writes an album that covers so much ground and so many moods, that after a listen or two you feel like you might know the guy. Equally perfect for long, thoughtful drives or spinning at a party, the typical first question by a friend who hears Underground is "Who is this?" followed closely by "Can I borrow it?" This Dylan fan honed his skills like his hero - in the streets of New York City. A former janitor at Electric Lady Studios, Darling played for many of today's top artists (Dave Matthews, D'Angelo). Like Warren Zevon before him, Darling's lyrics combine humor, irony, heartbreak and loneliness, yet are able to remain sap-free. These songs don't bring tears as much as a craving for a cold beer and a thoughtful nod. Performed nearly in its entirety by Darling, Underground has as many different styles of music as it has potential hits. "Nickel" is Beck-styled folk funk. "Franco American" is as unique as it is catchy. "Lonely Feeling" has the familiar twang and pace of early Uncle Tupelo, while "Anything At All" and "Broken Ashtray" make you wish you never gave up on your guitar lessons as a kid. This is a first rate debut of the highest order.

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