Darren Hanlon's Latest

The other day the mainframe at worked died and thus we had nothing to do for an hour or so. Therefore I headed off to a nearby CD store. There I purchased former local boy Darren Hanlon’s last effort Fingertops and Mountaintops. Having both the Hello Stranger Album and the Early Days EP, I was expecting a bit. However, I have been a little disappointed. The first four tracks are good but then the rest is a bit of push.

The tracks are

1. Hold On – This track gets off to a good start, however the violins at the end are a bit of a worry. Typical Hanlon.
2. People who wave at trains – Another reasonable effort. Does change tempo maybe once too often.
3. Happiness is only a chemical – Clearly the single that is going to get the most airplay and has a fairly good rhythm. Classic indy pop.
4. Elbows – A fairly assuming track about accidental contact between people.
5. Manilla NSW – This is the track where the album starts to go down hill. Sounds like a music hall standard and doesn’t really work I don’t think.
6. Romance is deafening – Another track I don’t really get.
7. The ostracism of Vinny Lalor – A bit better than the last.
8. Fire Engine – Female guest singer’s track. Doesn’t match the quality of Cast of Thousands off Hello Stranger.
9. Fingertips and Mountaintops – Title track. Perhaps should have stayed as just the title.
10. Couch Surfing – Another enjoyable track about being a couch nomad. We have all done it at some stage or another.
11. Don’t Bogart my heart – Great title for a song and is worth listening to.
12. Old dream – Slow final track that is perhaps a little too slow.

Overall, I would not say it is of the same standard as Hello Stranger (which is one of favourite albums) but it is enjoyable in parts. However, it would have made a great EP using the first four tracks and perhaps a couple of the others. I don't reget spending the $22.

Update: (5/11) This album has now grown on me and I really dig it.