British born pop artist Darren Ockert may not be a renowned name at the moment, but with the release of his official second studio album, Short Story Long, that is all about to change. With a talent for crafting infectious hooks and incorporating attention-grabbing production, the Miami-native’s new effort is the true definition of synth-pop.
Preceded by two diverse singles, the crisp and uplifting “You Don’t Know Me” and the darker, somewhat depressing “Crumbs”, Ockert moves smoothly across 12 tracks of guilty pleasure yet meaningful pop that highlight intriguing vocal performances and an ear for catchy, radio friendly tunes. The artist may not have the millions of followers as those on top of the charts now, but his new album is a must hear for those die-hard fans of dance floor-ready magic.
Straight out of the pages of Owl City’s colorful book, the album’s lead single “You Don’t Know Me” is a sparkling reminder for the bullied to stand strong. Besides the infectious production, Ockert’s songwriting is what lifts the opening track to pop masterpiece level. The message is positive, the vocals are alive and the overall package is uplifting. It certainly brought a smile to my face.
“Can’t Think Straight” may be filled with nauseating, stomach-turning lines, “if I’m purple, you are orange, feels like we, should just give up”, is just one, but there’s something about the track where saying “it’s so bad it’s really good” would not be too far-fetched. The verses definitely could have used some fine tuning; however, the pulsating chorus brings the entire thing to a decent, commendable finish.
Chosen as a finalist in the 2012 UK Songwriting Contest, “Force of Gravity” is a piano-driven moment where the spotlight certainly shines down on Ockert’s vocals. The writing is top notch, the production gives an eerie, 80s-sounding vibe which shifts into pure mid-tempo pop heaven when the chorus comes up. Safe to call a ballad, the track is one of the main reasons the album should be discovered.
While I’m glad “Not Your Boyfriend” is not directed towards me, you cannot help but feel sorry for the girl in question. Giving off a 90s boy band feel, the pop song seems to warn the artist’s potential love interests not to get too crazy. Supported by a nice dance beat which turns semi-dubstep for a breakdown in the middle, the anti-love song keeps the pace and energy of the preceding tracks.
The guitar-driven “Back For More” is another effort containing eye-rolling lyrics, but they work this time around. “Like a kid drawn to a candy store, I’ll be back for more,” he sings on the slightly romantic, don’t know when to give up, sugary pop song. Once again, Ockert’s love for synth-pop and loud production transports listeners back a decade or two, coming back to 2013 with successful, memorable results.
The sound of a piano sets the mood for the semi-ballad “Running Out of Love”, which has the artist contemplating throwing in the towel on his relationship. Pairing gorgeous instrumentals with a soft electronic beat, the song becomes a heartbreaking, emotional peek into Ockert’s personal life. It would not have been shocking to see the song on a female pop star’s upcoming album, it’s that good.
Ockert gets deliciously explicit and calls everyone back to the club floor for “Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down”. While focusing on the pain of the misunderstood, the artist has written a straightforward answer, an empowerment anthem, to his haters. “When they’re coming on strong, when they’re bringing you down… don’t let them get to you,” he sings while surrounded by show-stopping synths and beats.
“The Modern Life (1984)” is a bizarre throwback of a track, another rebellious anthem for the down trotted and defeated. Who can blame you for having the time of your life? This is Ockert’s question on the upbeat creation which truly does a great job at not falling into a particular category. It’s a bit pop, it’s dance, it’s New Wave, it’s campy, it’s fun.
Released as the effort’s second single, “Crumbs” is a change in pace and sound for the artist. Surrounded by a darker, moodier, slightly 90s alternative rock sound, the song tells the story of two intertwined love stories. We always want more from the ones who steal our heart, unfortunately Ockert sings of those who wait until their heart dies. For a somber moment, it’s pretty darn catchy.
Every album has its dreaded misstep, “Center of Attention” just happens to be the bump in the road for the artist’s new release. The sound is intriguingly different, nothing that would play on the Top 40 radio today, but it completely kills the energy and style presented by the rest of the album. Vocally, the artist seems a bit bored, just going through the motions. Definitely not the brightest moment.
All wrongs are righted with “Everybody’s Lonely”, a pulsating, techno experiment where the artist proclaims that everybody does hurt. Besides upping the production on the dance worthy chorus, the rest of the track keeps a fairly simple pace, never getting overpowered by unnecessary noise. In the end, it’s a nice addition to the overall pop sound of the album. Good vocals, good songwriting.
The album closes with my personal favorite, the heartfelt and honest “I’ve Moved On”, where the artist reminisces on a former flame just to say goodbye once and for all. “Living in the silence, loving through the violence, waiting for you,” Ockert sings with strength, but also with a dose of vulnerability and despair. For the final track, the artist ends things on an extremely high note, promising bigger and better things in the future.
Short Story Long is an album which truly deserves to be found, a synth-pop experiment that highlights an artist’s strong vocal abilities and story-like songwriting. Darren Ockert’s second try at a pop release soars to certain highs, stumbling only once. Yes, some of the lyrics may sound like they are coming for a pre-teen, but just like Cher, Ockert allows any cliché to become a romantic and heartfelt telling of personal issues. While production on many pop efforts can get out of hand, the artist uses catchy, infectious beats to assist in making an impact on the listener. For an album that accidentally fell into my laps, it receives an 86%.
Tracks to Hear: “You Don’t Know Me”, “Force of Gravity”, “Back For More”, and “I’ve Moved On”
0 Yorumlar