Not Many Experts

If you’d like to be reminded what Bon Iver sounded like before he diluted and confused his genius with the sounds of whatever instruments he could pick up for under $10 in a charity shop, then Dan Croll’s your man. Thinking about it, even if you happen to have been tricked into liking the new Bon Iver record, Dan Croll’s still the man for you.

In fact, whilst I’m just name-dropping the sort of fantastic artists that tend to leave you really underwhelmed when you actually listen to the artist being written about, let me bring up Bombay Bicycle Club. Quite like they did with their acoustic album “Flaws”, Croll has managed to tread a line perfectly between acoustic and digital, losing none of the character of either. He even has a quivering voice to rival Steadman’s. And the fact that they both thought it a good idea to name a song “Always Like This” doesn’t hurt, either.

In fact, the more you listen to Croll’s “It’s Always Like This”, the more you might come around to the thinking that mentions of Bon Iver and Bombay Bicycle Club won’t leave you feeling underwhelmed at all. He’s that good. And then you might even listen to the Fleet-Foxes-beating tender Americana of “Home” and be even more convinced. Ohhh, another Fleet Foxes reference? He went there. And I mean it. Surely you think that he’s your man by now?

Dan Croll – It’s Always Like This (Demo) by dancrollmusic

Dan Croll – Home (Live at the Paul McCartney Auditorium)