Arts & Culture
Kelley Darlin, Jessi Darlin and Nikki Darlin are them Darlins.
90FM Album Review: Those Darlins
The Pointer
sclar357@uwsp.edu
I’ve never really been a fan of country music. It seems like a lot of popular country music is just pop music with a little bit of twang. My view on country music was distorted when I first heard Those Darlins.
The trio of young women first met at a young age at a Southern Girls Rock n’ Roll Camp in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. They formed in 2006, consisting of a guitar, bass and baritone ukulele and they all contribute to the vocals.
Those Darlins released their self-titled debut album early this summer. They claim to be an indie pop group, but it is obvious that their sound consists of punk, country and rock n’ roll.
The album starts with my favorite song, “Red Light Love,” which expresses their punk influence with distorted guitar riffs and raw vocals.
Like any other country artists, how can you not talk about drinking and getting drunk? You certainly get that from songs like, “Wild One”, The Whole Damn Thing,” “Glass to You” and “DUI or Die.” “DUI or Die” is an interesting song as it expresses that it’s not a good idea to drive when drinking as they say, “it ain’t worth the cost of an ambulance drive.” It might be a terrible excuse but these ladies sing “Drunk driving I’m guilty, but I’m going to blame the booze.”
If you are ever in the mood to put on your cowboy boots and hat and listen to a two minute song that will make you dance, “Hung Up On Me” and “222” are winners in that category.
This album is definitely a new favorite for me. It has all the elements of what any other country artist would talk about, but it has a real country feel to it, instead of any annoying twang. It’s refreshing that there is an alternative side to the country music consistently played on commercial radio.
I have to give Those Darlins a big fat YEEEHHHAAAWWW
