The production of ‘The Ballad of the Lost” is well done and aurally pleasing. A full, rich sound emanates from the solo voice and acoustic guitar, both with a finely polished hue. Every pitch on the guitar is clear and utilizes a tasteful amount of echo. The chord changes and style of playing is reminiscent of “Stairway to Heaven” and other early 1970’s rock troubadour ballads. Don Derrick’s tenor vocals blend nicely with the guitar, though he could use a tad bit less echo. The balance between the two instruments is exceptional throughout, faltering only when the vocals swing low before swooping back up into the more comfortable mid-range. Derrick also excels in his well controlled tonal falsetto that only adds to ornament the piece and not to loudly punctuate a phrase.
Whether on purpose or not, “Ballad of the Lost” fails to go anywhere. If Derrick intended for more drama in his song, unfortunately the lyrics are not enough to convey that message. At the end of the chorus he twice sings “I’m missing you,” with no more power than he had displayed in the previous or ensuing verses. To further capture the listener’s attention it may have been beneficial to add something to the second verse. The addition of an extra harmony or instrument no matter how subtle could be a huge embellishment to the same guitar and vocals formula.
Derrick’s attempt to sing bigger towards the end only succeeds in slightly slowing down the tempo. There is not enough differentiation in his smooth vocals to notice a drastic change. The ending is woefully banal and expected: the guitar mechanically ritards and then ends on a strummed chord.
Understandably, “Ballad of the Lost” is not meant to be a huge production number. Derrick has already demonstrated superb musicianship through his vocals, playing and songwriting. He simply needs to continue honing his craft to make his songs not just finely executed, but memorable as well.
Review by Kelly O’Neil
