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Monday, March 9, 2009

Review: The Private Life Of David Reed - Missteps And Miscommunications


The Private Life Of David Reed – Missteps And Miscommunications
2008, Chamberlain Music

David Reed has set out on his own. The Columbia, South Carolina resident set aside his band of four years, Closer, to be able to choose his own artistic direction. Writing and performing in the same vein as folks like Damien Rice, Bright Eyes, Jeff Buckley and David Grey, Reed goes for an acoustic flavor with whatever effects and embellishments he can lay his hands on. The resultant EP, Missteps and Miscommunications, is quite enjoyable.

Missteps And Miscommunications opens with 27, a quiet pleading song with some great dynamics. Lead vocalist David Reed rips his own heart out for you to see on this song. A Week And Seven Days is a delicious Modern Rock anthem that should have significant impact potential on something like radio’s The Edge. Gone continues the big guitar rock sound that seems to work so well for The Private Life Of David Reed. The song itself is a bit formulaic, but it works. I also particularly enjoyed Misery Loves Company, a quiet and introspective tune that is among the most poignant here. Let Go is a driven rocker guided by urgent yearning and some great harmonies. Other highlights include You Had It All, The Way That You Are and the acoustic version of Better Be Careful Now, which was more enjoyable than the electric version.

The Private Life Of David Reed is dynamic and buoyed by influences ranging from 1980’s Hair Metal to Modern Rock. Reed shows a flair for the sort of dramatic glam that wraps up a crowd. Missteps and Miscommunications displays little of either. It does dip into the well of “radio sound” a bit too often, but is distinctive enough to be worth listening to.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about The Private Life Of David Reed at www.myspace.com/theprivatelifeofdavidreed or http://www.chamberlainrecords.com/. You can download Missteps and Miscommunications through iTunes.

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