Customer Reviews

From the Attic

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Actually, there's quite a few reviewers who have it wrong here. I know that the band produced the record themselves over the course of a few years, so the reviewer from San Fran who says the musicians were 'stifled' is way off base. When you produce a record yourself, it tends to end up exactly how you want it. As for those who want to bash the lyrics as 'meaningless' and with 'no substance', you're absolutely right, and that's a good thing. This band doesn't take themselves too seriously, and in the spirit of bands like the Ramones, the Dead Boys, and Motley Crue, fun, innocent lyrics are a rarity and a refreshing alternative to the likes of terrible songwriters like Staind and Saliva, who want everybody to feel sorry for them. The spirit of rock and roll thrives in guiltless fun, and this band embodies that idea. One of the best records of 2003, hands down.

I really like this album, but have to clarify a few things: originality was not the goal here, so people need to chill with this fixation--this album is power pop made to sell, and that's ok. Vocals are melodic and very catchy in a very obvious way; there's nothing "catchy in a weird way" going on here. I don't doubt that the guitar player is an incredible musician, but the producer must have really stifled him on this album--the guitar work is generic and simple, but it works perfectly for this type of music. Noelle is a great singer--her singing voice is almost identical to Juliana Hatfield's (which is a good thing)--so it's already been replicated a long time ago. This album is fun to listen to, and I think that was the intention when it was recorded. The average person will like this album instantly, and the people who hate mainstream pop out of principle will want this thing burned. There are plenty of bands attempting to woo their audience with originality (I like them, too), but Damone is better at catchy pop--they did a great job here.

This is 100% power pop goodness.Damone isn't doing anything new, but they're having fun, and I'm having fun with them.Of course, I appreciate Tori Amos,Ani DiFranco, and Suzanne Vega, but Damone rocks in a way the Donnas do.Don't think about it, just play it loud.Rock on with your frock on!

I think people need to take a step back and stop taking themselves so seriously. What's great about this album is that it's totally unpretentious pop with honest lyrics and a pleasant sounding voice to back them up. The word "pop" does not call upon hell, it's music that was meant to be enjoyed by many people, music that should make you feel good. Maybe it's because I'm a little older than the lyrics (19) but they hark back to a time when the only thing that was important in life was boys and the mall. It's completely reminiscent of a specific time and in that, just listening to the lead singer's self-deprecating lyrics and wishful thinking makes me smile. Enjoy it for what it is, we were all freshman in highschool once, right?

Damone is one of those bands that seem to be having so much fun that it rubs off on you. Out Here All Night had that feel and it's no different on this CD, From The Attic. As much fun as it is to listen to them, I also have to admit that they're not the most talented group of musicians either. I don't care though, Noel has an excellent voice that is both powerful and vulnerable and the band proves to be completely competent throughout the CD.

I know Damone is getting more attention now but it still baffles me that they're not way more popular. They have that punk/pop niche to their sound and their lyrics are relateable. Between the two releases, I have to prefer this more than the new one. Both have strong qualities that make them memorable but From The Attic is short, to the point, and full of catchy tunes. Frustrated Unnoticed starts off the CD with some hilarious lyrics and a nice riff throughout. Up To You shows the more vulnerable side of Noel. The song is slow but has a strong pick-me-up during the chorus. Feel Bad Vibe really shouldn't be that great of a song but I can't help but love the chorus, other than that, it offers nothing spectacular. Overchay With Me is yet another standout. The surprising guitar solo serves as the main feature but Noel's voice sounds terrific as well. Carwash Romance has the same kind of attitude that Out Here All Night sports. Suffice to say, if you love that record you'll love this song. Leave Me Alone is the ending and it's the perfect place to have it. Noel feels a bit helpless in it, which serves the excellent guitar part through the verses. A definite highlight, it's just a shame it's so short.

My favorite songs are Up To You, Feel Bad Vibe, Overchay With Me, At The Mall, and Leave Me Alone. If you hate Damone, From The Attic won't sway you opinion at all. For those of us who already love them this is a nice find. The guitar solos are a-plenty which helps out the pace of the CD greatly with it being so unbelievably short and anyone doubting Noel's ability as a frontwoman, well, I think she proves herself quite well here. There are a few songs that drag a little but for the most part From The Attic is an excellent listen, albeit a swift one.

Get a blender and throw in Blondie, the Go-Go's, Veruca Salt, Juliana Hatfield and every other GOOD pop band you know and you get DAMONE. LOVE THIS BAND and I can't wait for their second album!

I saw Damone perform at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City when they opened for the Ataris. Not only are the musicians very talented but Noelle has an amazing and unique voice that's almost impossible to replicate.

I really liked this CD because it's not dark depressing rock (I like that a little), but it's not icky nasty bubblegum junk(I don't like that at all!). Noelle has a really pretty voice. Oh and Dustin, the drummer, is a really good drummer and he's cute. It took me like three weeks to find this CD. It was super frustrating. Of course, I shouldn't have expected to find it though because I live in the middle of nowhere. Finally when I went on vacation and I was in some mall in Portsmith, Nh, I found it and I rejoiced. All the songs are good escpecially Feel Bad Vibe, Driveway Blues, and You and I. Since I've heard it a thousand times because I have it on another CD , Frustrated Unnoticed is the teensiest bit annoying. I still love it though. This band is cool because you can't really label them. Those are the kind of bands I love.

Well I bought this album used after seeing the video for "Frustrated Unnoticed" on MTV. It's not bad, though it wasn't anything special to me. The lyrics are lacking, mostly sound like a thirteen year old skateboarder wrote them. That's not always a bad thing, but I was hoping for more I guess.

Overall, I'd get it used if you can.

Damone came up with a real winner with their second album Out Here All Night but there are fun times to be had in the company of their debut as well. With a different line up prevalent on this album there are surprising few differences in overall character to their more well known second album.

Damone play vibrant power pop. There are some pop-punk influences in some of the time signatures and ambience of the numbers but I'd basically put this on a par with generic power pop played with verve and spirit. In Noelle Leblanc the band are lucky enough to have a singer who isn't a vocal gymnast but has a certain `X' factor to her delivery that sucks you in and she has that invaluable capacity to croon utterly cliched ditties yet make them seem fresh.

That's not to deny David Pino his due credit for writing every note on this uplifting if somewhat naive guilty pleasure. For their second album the band had to rebuild a writing partnership between the reconstituted band, but here it's all the David Pino show and the guy will hopefully have a future in the music business somewhere, though really once your over 25 you really shouldn't have any business actually getting up and performing this sort of stuff. And what is it with the repeated use of the car wash as a vocal motif?

The real difference between Damones first two albums are that on From the Attic the songs are just a touch too juvenile and wistful without enough bite whereas on the follow up your presented with less of a guilty pleasure and a far more encompassing listen.

So I guess what I'm trying to say is that their second album is far better but if you got that and liked it - as I did - then pick this up cheap and you won't be disappointed because it has a few gems on it that complement Out Here All Night.