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I Called I Desmond Drive  Pop music gets a bad rap these days, but that’s bound to happen when the formulaic have the biggest financial backing and promotional campaign. If you’re wondering if inventive arrangements and infectious hooks can still coexist, Desmond Drive is here as confirmation. I Called I is their debut album, a collection of original material from bandleader Bill Shaouy. Taking cues from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, and XTC, Desmond Drive treats each composition with care, playing together with a comfort level that suggests they’ve known each other forever.
Those who doubt the power of pop music may want to take a hard listen to “Simple Things,” perhaps the quintessential example of Shaouy’s songwriting ability. Defining himself as “a lover of humor Pythonese…a lover of chick peas Lebanese…a lover of love songs McCartney’s,” respect is rightly paid to the Fab Four‘s legacy. In a selfish world that continually wants more, this song suggests (with unflinching belief) that the best things in life are free. Guitarist Rob Gal plays double duty as producer, allowing Shaouy’s lyrics to play within a world of sonic euphoria. “Simple Things” jumps out of the speakers with deliriously happy clapping cadences and background vocals that bounce from left to right. “Leader” is another attention-grabber, one that asks soul-searching questions of self and of the listener in an attempt to awaken a greater purpose within us all. At one point, Shaouy thoughtfully sings, “Why do I so easily give away my power so I may get along?”
“My Tribe” deals with the strength and security in numbers, its rhythmic percussion making it an immediate standout on the album. It’s the kind of song that concertgoers can rally around, jumping in unison and singing along. The disc closes in grand fashion with “One Night,” a vast expense of a tune that unfolds to reveal new layers around every turn. Shaouy and Gal shine as sonic sculptors able to determine how much to add before the mix becomes unmanageable. A string section here, a sprinkling of one-word phrasing there, and a steady build to the song’s apex completes the album’s journey. Perhaps I Called I can be summed up by an utterance from the Greek chorus that pops up on this full-length: “Oh, the characters within…and the stories they tell.” This is carefully crafted pop music, the type that can get stuck in your head and you won’t mind one bit.
Jason Randall Smith 2009-01-05
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