Published on Jun 8, 2001
One of the most difficult things about reviewing early works
from any artist is trying to view those albums in the context of
the time they were recorded in… and not allowing their latter-day
work to shape your view. Sometimes, I succeed; other times, I fail
miserably.
In the case of Scotland’s Del Amitri, it’s really hard to forget
about the bulk of their catalog when listening to their 1985
self-titled debut. It’s almost like listening to two different
bands – and I really hate to say it, but I like the “newer” version
better.
Justin Currie and company aren’t the pop-rock balladeers they
became starting with
Waking Hours their first time around. On
Del Amitri, they sound a lot like R.E.M. meets The Cure –
and it’s not always the prettiest sound. Sure, you’ve got Iain
Harvie’s guitar’s jangling like Peter Buck, rarely dipping into
barre-chord land. But balanced with this, you’ve got Currie
spitting out stream-of-consciousness vocals that sounded more like
the Unabomber’s rant. Currie hadn’t quite developed a powerful
style of singing yet, so tracks like “Heard Through A Wall,” “Crows
In The Wheatfield” and “Sticks And Stones Girl” have about as much
weight as a feather in a tornado.
In all honesty, these tracks could have been improved with one
or two minor changes. Maybe if Currie had dropped such a repetitive
chorus on “Crows In The Wheatfield” it could have been a better
track. Maybe if the style of music hadn’t been so new-wave (though,
gratefully, not a la Devo) these would have been a little easier to
swallow. But the sad fact is, they aren’t – at least not in this
incarnation.
Only the closing track, “Breaking Bread” holds out any hope for
Del Amitri. More in the pop-rock vein than any of the nine
preceeding tracks, Currie and crew sound like they finally hit a
level of comfort musically, and they truly shine on this one song.
Too bad it comes right at the end – but one could argue it left
hope for the band’s next outing… four years later.
Maybe
Del Amitri was the kind of album that Currie and crew needed
to get out of their systems early on in the game. Maybe this really
is a picture of a band looking for a distinctive style and voice,
and finding out their search was to continue. Whatever the case, if
you pick this one up hoping to hear early versions of “Roll To
Me”-like songs, you’re going to be in for an unpleasant shock. This
one is for the die-hard fans only… and, since it’s out of print
at the time I’m writing this, good luck finding it.