Damesviolet

Upside Down (Simple Living)

Considering the commercial success of Houston’s Blue October, Damesviolet’s third full-length, Upside Down, could be just as easily bombarded across the FM broadband. Led by brothers Beaux and Zak Loy on guitars and vocals, opener “Stay Away” and “Everyone Else” recall Muse’s Black Holes and Revelations without the adumbration and sonic caterwauls, while “Sometimes” accounts for the standard second-single acoustic ballad, sans the strings and triumphant chorus. “Still” explores Coldplay dynamics through numbing lyricism (“Once upon a time I felt like there was no one else, but that’s not true”), while the ghosts of Goo Goo Dolls and Default rummage through the album’s stadium-built latter half. Unfortunately, such comparisons aren’t favorable; the platinum hitmakers mentioned represent the mass nexus of unoriginal and uninspired mainstream rock & roll billed as “modern alternative.” Austin’s Damesviolet might have what it takes to join their ranks.

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This article appears in April 20 • 2007.

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