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Combining thumping electronics with dour, sour vocals, Baby Dayliner walk a highwire somewhere between the Magnetic Fields and the Human League. Principal persona Ethan Marunas pouts and struts his way through the songs, sounding haughty and elegant on the title track and commanding on "Simon Sez". Fans of classic electropop will find many reasons to cheer.
Baby Dayliner's "Critics Pass Away" is one of my favorite records of the year. Every song is a potential single. Each one has its own flavor. If you took New Order, LL Cool J, and Rick Astley out to a party you'd end up with this!
I got very little xref of Magnetic Fields or Human League. But I DID hear a lot of Chris Connelly and Fatima Mansions. So, if you like BD go get CC! (I was not too fond of hearing BD do his own backing and lead vox - comes across as just plain odd in a few tracks - really bedroom).
My first reaction to "Critics Pass Away" was "Holy crap, why haven't I heard of Baby Dayliner before?" I stumbled upon this album when it was the #1 downloaded album on eMusic, and I am so very glad I did. I find my self having more fun with and simply enjoying this album more than any other release this year. I was worried that the electro-pop sugar-high of some of the songs on the album would wear thin after a while, but my adoration for this album has, somehow, only grown over time. Tracks "Critics Pass Away", "Whodunit?" and "Small Town Halls" are the standouts, but somehow, every track has something to offer.
I somehow picked up Baby Dayliners album High Heart and Low Estate, even though it's nothing like the rest of my music. Well, he is the one artist that I have most difficulties putting in genre boxes. This new album rocks so hard that I can't believe it. All the good stuff from High Heart but more steady going, with no semi dull tracks. I love his deep, cool voice - I believe every word he says even when it's "la la la la la la".
This is one of the most addictive, danceable, strangely orginal albums I have heard in a long time. You will be singing along without realising it. And, yes, that is a smile on your face after the album's last track plays. Not one dud to be heard.
