Donora is a diamond in the rough: they are a relatively young indie-pop/rock band with a considerable following in their hometown, but have yet to break on the international scene; they are a little unpolished at the edges, but certainly chock-full of potential.
The band's self-titled debut album, released under Rostum Records, is an impressive effort from an upstart. Gratifying and delightful, their songs appeal to casual listeners who want something more than just your ordinary radio fare.
Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the trio -- comprising siblings Jake and Casey Hanner, and their friend Jake Churton -- grew up in a music-playing environment. The Hanners learnt a lot from their musician father David Hanner, one half of the American country music duo Corbin/Hanner. Incidentally, Dave is the maestro behind Donora's album.
As with many debuts, the LP sounds spotty in certain areas. Of course, it boasts many notable cuts, such as the album opener "Shout", where female vocalist Casey adds spunk to the addictive rock number, and "Shhh", where she does an about-turn, lowering her voice to a purr during the chorus and lets you in on her child-like secret.
However, it falls flat with "Weekend Tongue", a frazzled track which doesn't quite fit in. The plot is lost with the yelping and stuttering, and the tune doesn't really stick in my mind.
"The Chorus" is my favourite track off the album: take a rollicking pop melody and pair it with layers of guitars, rapid-fire drumbeats and a catchy refrain. "I Think I Like You" is an upbeat pop number that was originally written for a film licensing deal, but unfortunately did not materialise in the end.
The album closes with "London", a simple, moving ballad that captures the sweet essence of the band and brings the album to a complete full stop.
Not bad for a young band, but Donora needs to continue working on what it is brilliant at -- that is, crafting lovely, effervescent pop ditties -- to ensure its longevity in the field. These guys are already making major inroads, and are likely to catapult to stardom when their songs get featured in future TV shows and movie soundtracks. I think that day will come pretty soon.
Download:
Donora - The Chorus [Removed]
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