So So Gay
Greg White checks out the debut album from hot pop twosome DATABOY.
Last month, So So Gay introduced you to DATABOY and raved about the their free EP Summer Now. Now Cameron Maxwell and Adam Bailey have released their fantastic full-length debut album, Dreams Are Gold. The Texas-raised/New York-based pop duo demonstrate a great sense of humour and melody on this electro-pop production.
The album starts off with a bit of a red herring as a gentle piano melody begins the first track ‘Genius’ before launching into a full-throttle dance jam. This track is indicative of what’s found on the rest of the album: musical surprises, tongue-in-cheek attitude, and fantastically thumping beats. The songwriting and production throughout Dreams Are Gold never suffers the way many pop efforts do by being repetitive or predictable. From start to end the album manages to be instantly likeable, but with enough depth to reward repeated listening.
The second track ‘Just Once’ (listen below) is an absolutely perfect summer anthem. It’s a joyous, hands-in-the-air affair that forces you to smile. Following this is the minute-and-a-half interlude ‘Like It’ before leading into the club banger title track. Definitely a highlight of the album, ‘Dreams Are Gold’ is an emotional dance number that Dr. Luke and Calvin Harris would be jealous of.
Elsewhere on the LP, ‘Lotion’ is a cheeky ode to a fun day at the beach (‘come rub some lotion on me’). ‘Unfriend’ takes a humorous, modern look at a problematic social media relationship (‘you’re a stalker, you’re a stalker, real weird mother-f***er’). Final track ‘Stupid’ is about a night out at the club and a fun, mischievous number (‘is it okay to mix Crown with Bacardi?’).
The only qualm we have with this great album is that it could actually stand to be extended by one or two tracks. At ten songs spanning thirty minutes, it feels like it falls a tad short. What it’s specifically missing is a ballad or mid-tempo number that would really showcase these handsome boys’ great voices a bit a more. We can understand that DATABOY obviously wanted to keep the pace dance-charged, but it just doesn’t feel like we hear all this talented duo are capable of by the end of the album.
Overall, Dreams Are Gold is one of the most unique, intelligent, and fun dance/pop albums released so far this year. It’s a solid debut that shows off the duo’s talent but also leaves them plenty of room to grow in the future.
Go Get It: ‘Just Once’ / ‘Dreams Are Gold’
Forget It: ‘Sweat’
Dreams Are Gold is available now on Amazon and iTunes.
http://youtu.be/saikhFKQzAk
