Lonely People of the World Unite

Devin Davis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 15, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Animal World
• ASIN: B0007M22QQ
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #344,756 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Iron Woman

2. When I Turn Ninety-Nine

3. Turtle and the Flightless Bird

4. Moon Over Shark City

5. Cannons at the Courthouse

6. Transcendental Sports Anthem

7. Sandie

8. Paratrooper With Amnesia

9. Giant Spiders

10. The Choir Invisible

11. Deserted Eyeland

Editorial Reviews

The solo debut from Chicago’s Devin Davis is a collection of songs whose all-encompassing theme is that of loneliness. In much the same way that The Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs was a meditation on love, Lonely People is an anthemic ode to loneliness in its many forms and effects. The theme of loneliness was decided upon partly as a result of the recording process that Davis followed, with marathon sessions in the studio, often in the middle of the night, over a two-year period. Told in first person through the eyes of a varied cast of characters, (ranging from William Tell and the ghost of legendary American wanderer Everett Reuss to an amphibian in love with a wounded bird and a sea-weary Viking), these songs seek to be more story than diary entry, with settings as varied as a Starbucks on top of Mt. Everest and a bomb shelter in the midst of a nuclear war.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High Society Friends, March 19, 2005

By 

Ben Monte "rock god" (san diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lonely People of the World Unite (Audio CD)

If this album has impact that it should, Devin will not be lonely for long. His album covers all the bases of rock. Great drums, distorted guitars, horns and fireworks!?? The technical aspects of the music are solid. Devin is a talented musician and more. Come on, he played, recorded, mixed, engineered, and arranged everything himself. The music is infectious, after the first play I have yet to get the chorus from 'Turtle and the Flightless Bird' out of my head. He references the Monkees, Willie Nelson and there is a looming presence of Beatles pop power. His lyrics are clever and each song is concise enough to keep an ADD kid attentive. If you do not already own this album, order one and prepare to rock out.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where's the 4-and-a-half stars? A _SOLID_ debut., June 10, 2005

By 

Glen Burg "distantshore" (the Maritimes of Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely People of the World Unite (Audio CD)

Rarely will I applaud an album that has vocals that are hoarsely shouted instead of sung, voice wavering in the keys. But you know the type of album that happens when someone's adequately studied their record collection and knows what _works_ in rock'n'roll? This is for the Sloan, Flashing Lights and New Pornographers fans out there: this guy can _rock_. He also knows his way around the studio, picking up most any instrument he can find. The arrangements are just the right amount of sloppy (think "Sticky Fingers"), the music often wants to make you hit the accelerator pedal while cruising. The occasional wit is strong enough to appreciate while tasteful enough not to wince. "Iron Woman" and "When I Turn Ninety-Nine" are a 1-2 startoff punch that starts off by showing a balls-rock thing or two to the punk-popsters and the stone-rockers, quickly following with a distorted T-Rex-type boogie that doesn't hesitate to include a bridge that sounds like a pensive beat group on prellies (say, early early Who) after imbibing the influence of the Zombies. What follows afterwards is a kaleidoscope of styles and influences, often one-upping those who are best known for pulling these aces from their sleeves. IMO, the album only falters when the blues-romp piano intro of "Paratroopers with Amnesia" begins, but by that time seven excellent tracks have already played. Not to say the album stops at the eighth track: "Giant Spiders" brings "Who's Next"-era Who into the 21st century Top-40 (complete with _that_ synthesizer), "The Invisible Choir" is one last stab at intelligencia, and "Distorted Eyeland" surprisingly comes across as John Mayer flashbacking to 1967's Summer of Love albums. Words can't do it justice, go listen to the sample MP3s at www.devindaviswebsite.com a few times and then buy the album. These ones don't show up everyday.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars So what, it's derivative, but that's not necessarily a BAD thing..., November 18, 2005

By 

apostles03 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely People of the World Unite (Audio CD)

When you begin writing anything: whether it is a short story, poetry, or a power pop song, it's impossible to not be derivative--we all internalize our influences and translate them in our own style. As an artist matures, he begins to more successfully blend he influences with his own style and finds his own voice. Devin Davis' "Lonely People" is clearly derivative (and may be subjected to criticism because of it) but I personally have no complaints because Davis has (1) clearly chosen some of the best of the genre to emulate and (2) has pulled off an entertaining collection of songs reminiscent Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend". If you miss Ray Davies' power pop and are looking for someone who rocks the same chords with the energy of the Spiders From Mars, check this CD out. It isn't going to change the world or anything, but it will make it a lot groovier.