Press » Indie-Music.com Review
Artist: Dross (Michael Daross)
CD: The Age of Ignorance
Home: Austin, Texas
Style: Contemporary Eclectic
Quote: "When music becomes the sound track for whatever activity you're engaged in, the artist has succeeded in capturing the essence of life, touching the heart and soul. And Dross succeeds in admirable fashion."
By Kenny Hart
I don't know what I was expecting when I popped this CD into my player for the first time, but I know I wasn't expecting the high, smooth timbre that tickled my ears. Michael Daross has one of those unique voices that never quite seem to match the singer's appearance. Not that it matters; in fact, it makes the whole project more interesting. The project, Dross's debut album, is called The Age of Ignorance.
Combining high emotional energy with jazz, folk, and pop motifs, Dross's sound is tough to pigeonhole; call it Contemporary Eclectic: Ani Di Franco would probably consider this right up her alley. Daross's passionate, intricate lyrics flout simplistic, cliché commercialism, focusing instead on intricate wordplay built around a cohesive central theme: question your assumptions. Dross shows a talent for coining catchy titles, but while his lyrics show deep thought, they sometimes don't "prove the title" - the title phrase doesn't show up in the song, and you are left wondering where the title came from. Such a small flaw is easily overlooked; however, what is not easily overlooked is Daross's tendency to wander out of the melodic bounds of the song. For the casual listener, it may be barely noticeable; for me, it's a major point of contention - the vocals must be in tune, especially when landing on the root notes. Some basic ear training and attention to detail when recording the vocals is a sure fix.
Nevertheless, the record is otherwise well-produced. The production trades big-full-loud commercial techniques for sustained listenability while maintaining a dynamic complexity that enhances every song. When music becomes the sound track for whatever activity you're engaged in, the artist has succeeded in capturing the essence of life, touching the heart and soul, and Dross succeeds in admirable fashion.
There are at least six tracks that could be released as singles, but my top two picks are "The Price Of Life" and "The Voices In My Head," both of which have a melodic and lyrical complexity that immediately grabs your attention and pulls you into the song with such interesting juxtapositions as: "I believe we have a duty; To fuse pain with beauty; Because tears and laughter both can help you grow" (from "The Price Of Life"); and, "There's a devil on my shoulder; Who makes me doubt my own desires; And every time I say I love you; The bastard tells me I'm a liar" (from "The Voices In My Head"). Deep, very deep. Definitely worth a listen.