CD REVIEW: SCOTT DARLOW – Sorry

CD REVIEW: SCOTT DARLOW – Sorry
Gonzales Records
December 2016
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
6 /10

Indigenous educator, activist and World Vision spokesman Scott Darlow has delivered an odd collection for his debut album. Occupying the middle ground between Neil Finn excellent melodic soft rock, and Bon Jovi’s latterday sleepwalking radio-by-numbers output, the production too often errs on the over-sanitised side of radio friendly.

Opener Down Like Flies has a little rock edge, getting Sorry off to a solid start, with the title track showing some impressive dynamics and Darlow’s impressive range. Girl’s lighter country edge works pretty well, but Secret Self and My Love are well-written love songs that are given the raw end of the deal from an insipid production.

It’s hard not to admire Darlow’s vocals and songwriting, but he seriously needs to get a producer on board to give his songs a more organic and real edge. Darlow closes the album on that exact note, with a cover of Goanna’s Solid Rock featuring songwriter and vocalist Shane Howard himself. It’s an enjoyable update of the Aussie classic, and the best track on Sorry.

Category: CD Reviews