Dark Days: Donnie Alexzander Review
The Early Christmas present we all needed: Donnie Alexzander’s long awaited full length dropped this past Saturday to bring us holiday cheer in pure rock form.
Dark Days is a classic rock album packed with unique touches of genius topped with Matthew Alexzander’s voice and harmonies that make you patient and insist on pressing the repeat.
The last time I got to chat with the myth, the legend, Donnie, they told me that their favorite part of the music process is the recording. In essence, you get to take what you’ve been creating for days/months/years and make it into a forever. My pops always wished he got some of his band the Market Street Band on record- so I can completely agree with Donnie’s sentiment. Ideas are worth recording, but Donnie clearly did it pristinely.
One of my favorite tracks on Dark Days is Untitled. An instrumental track that uses the lead guitar line as an intricate vocal~ trailing in and out, up and down the fret, the song takes you into its own space and time continuum. It completely has the lotus effect of pulling you in and never letting go. After a few repeats, I had to ask, “What day is it?”
“last night I got drunk on a conversation”
Last Night which was released as a teaser before the drop of Dark Days is a blast to the past in terms of vibe. But then Donnie pulls you in for personal style at 1:47.
HUGE SUCKER for the harmonies on Chlorine Heart. Only thing better than one Donnie is two in beautiful unity for ultimate tranquility with a brooding guitar line in the background, creating a juxtaposition that WORKS.
Avid Donnie Alexzander listener and genius behind Snowpiler, Nick Restivo, had a lot to say about “Dark Days.” In chatting with him he said…
“Donnie’s latest album shows his guitar virtuosity and creative use of melodic motifs. His progressions are akin to Elliott Smith (I sometimes imagine it’s how Elliott would have sounded if he were still writing songs today), but there is also complexity and darkness that gives me the same chills as Spiderland.”
What are the knockout memories that stuck with you?
That reverse guitar lick in “Yesterday” when the full band comes in; “Dark Days” is one of my faves by Donnie, always got this one stuck in my head while we were on the road together, and the ending “breakdown” is so badass and beautiful; “Serce” is such a gentle and brooding lullaby, and the way that Donnie links this song with “Untitled” and “Shamore” is brilliant. “Untitled” is my favorite track on the album, the way it comes out of the purring cello line, it is a welcomed mood shift, and the song is very carefully orchestrated yet incredibly natural feeling; the quick shuffle beat on “Last Night” with that quirky slide riff is *chefs kiss*. “Chlorine Heart” is a classic Donnie song- perfecting dynamic shifts, with “Blood” being the albums Swan Song. It opens with a creative use of falsetto vocals and gentle acoustic guitar work. It sets you up to go one way and suddenly pummels you with a fuzzed out wall of sound that makes me grin the way that Cloakroom does. The coolest thing about this song though, is that the structure is not a predictable, “start quiet and explode over and over” type of song. It really explores the potential of the progression, and shows some self-control. Extremely tasteful songwriting ❤️
Give this album a listen and when you fancy it head over to Bandcamp and donate what you can! All proceeds will be donated to The National Center For Transgender Equality.
Dark Days was …
mixed by Bryson Teel (hey!!) and mastered by Justine Barre. credits. the studio band was made up of Chris Thomas on drums, Niles Spaulding on bass and Peter Neagle on harmonies. shoutout to Blind Moose Studios who tracked drums and bass.