Dave Rich Overload CD - Import

 From Rock n Reel
There's no faulting the packaging and production on the debut from this Devon-based outfit. It looks and sounds like the real deal - each number being lovingly constructed by a bunch of fine sounding musicians: slick songs flowing one after the other, the themes being the pain and anger associated with relationships. Despite all these positive attributes, when put together the whole experience is utterly bland. It is singularly lacking in any identity that lifts it above the mundane. Dave Rich simply doesn't write world-weary well enough. There are no simple truths that raise the spirit. Instead the opener, 'We're Done', employs the crass lyrics likening love to 'psychosis with pain' leading him 'down the barrel of a gun'. Things don't pick up from there before reaching the close, 'Time With You', when we are informed that 'life is like a barren lake'. This emotional tone is consistent throughout and is reflected in the vocal delivery. A little joy or some real self-loathing might have changed the mood sufficiently. But right now it's hard to care about Mr Rich's woes, or his record.
Submitted by Simon Rowland (London UK)
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 I have to agree with Scottish Linzi (sort of)
Urgh, this was a terribe album, didin't fit into any genre and not in a good way. Just sounded messy. But I didn't like the singers voice more than anything. Lyrics were actually ok. I wonder, is the 2nd Linzi - Mrs Dave Rich or his sister on the DaveRich website? hmmm - biased much???
Submitted by Richard (Yorkshire, UK)
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 Terrible
Good tunes, but terrible lyrics. Singer has a good voice though, shame about the songs.
Submitted by Linzi (Scotland)
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 Flavour
What this album has is flavour. It moves, it progresses. There is a song which *everyone* can instantly say "I like that, that's good", tasting the rest takes initial interest, and turns it into fond appreciation. And what blows me away about this album is that you can't pigeonhole it. I don't know what the Scottish lady is talking about when it comes to the lyrics... Human Condition rocks. It's a sentiment I can relate to certainly. Fish Fin Walking might confuse the imaginatively unadventurous... but I'm guessing it's meant to ;) And Speeding Train has the type of musical + lyrical trickery you don't often find... 3 different tempos in one song... and you've been there and back before you even notice, that deserves a round of applause on its own. If you want to be flipant about your music, don't go here, there's too much to take in. If you want to be caught unawares with a pleasant surprise... go for your life!
Submitted by Linzi (England)
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