Don Gator and Last Second Dropout Reviewed
Don Gator – Barcelona Slum
If you want the world to listen to you, understand and try to improve itself, you’d better have a really good story. And, if there isn’t a real one that you can pull from, you’d better have the qualities of a fantastic novelist and make something up quick.
That’s simply because all of us are programmed to understand the world through stories, not through abstractions. Even the great prophets of old used them, and those proved to be the best marketing devices possible, with people still quoting them.
Now, the one time that I travelled to Barcelona, I was too busy hiding my credit cards inside my underpants and avoiding eye contact outside of the main boulevard. But I’m ready to believe Don Gator’s story about human tragedy set on the streets of this beautiful, threatening city.
“Barcelona Slum” is a short story about addiction and possible redemption shaped as a pop song. It’s built around expressive, emotional vocals and a mix of straight pop and gritty alternative rock. The lyrics are the highlight, of course, and it’s the storytelling that makes the song real.
Last Second Dropout – Aspartame
Rock n’ roll music was a terrible, wonderful thing. People who played sometimes earned enough money for a golden-plated swimming pool, and other times were found at the bottom of one. The people who followed it as diligently as sports fans accompany their favourite teams sometimes earned a few great experiences, and, often, lost their minds, their lives, or their dignity.
But the thing that’s replaced it, the thing that was supposed to be safer and please everyone who hears it, is much worse. Modern pop-rock music is safe on the ears, and extremely harmful on the soul. Never comfort! And, always, embrace the dangers of life as they come! These are lessons that Last Second Dropout would like to share.
“It tastes like sugar and deceit,” is the clever line that defines “Aspartame,” the marvellously catchy, pop single by Last Second Dropout. Nominally, this is a song about replacing sugar with something that may or may not be worse on the system. But, really, this is a song about life itself and all of the ways that we try and navigate past its laws. Very strong, beautifully silly single!
