As our country moves into an ambiguous future, music like that from the Darrin James Band seems more fitting than ever.


With the release of their newest album, “Strange Storm” last month, the Darrin James Band tackles themes of violence, greed, religious hypocrisy and political chaos that we all face internationally. The album is a mix of folk, rock and even big band inspired music, using musical elements from across the globe to be all inclusive.

Each song on the album tackles a new genre and global issue. In upbeat tracks like “Strange Storm” and “Dangerous Kind” the music is more soulful, with elements of jazz and horns sounding throughout. Darrin’s vocals come in strong, with a grungy voice reminiscent of Tom Waits singing over the various instruments. The lyrics are thoughtful and have a clear point of view that keeps you thinking well after the song is over. However for me, the vocals can distract from the music at times. Darrin’s voice can be overly rough so it is hard to make out what he is saying.

darrin-james
Darrin James

Slower tracks like “Walking in the Footsteps,” feature a more solemn voice from Darrin, with his voice only lightly singing over the sound of an acoustic guitar. The lyrics speak to today’s strife with a less abrasive sound, although the message remains just as strong. Whatever the message, it is interesting to see how the Darrin James Band uses music to share it. There are the louder, more in your face songs and then the quieter, poetic like pieces. It helps that each song utilizes different elements from various genres, so that there is a little something for everyone.

To further push the diverse sounds, the album includes various artists from Darrin’s hometown of Detroit and all throughout Michigan, making each song unique. Listen to the full album “Strange Storm” below and keep up to date with the Darrin James Band on their website.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here