antiMusic.com: Digby - What's Not Plastic? Review

Digby - What's Not Plastic? Review
by Patrick Muldowney

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There are way too many struggling rock bands, or just way too many rock bands. Whichever way you choose, Digby falls in line. They have the same collection of musicians, the same muted distortion spaced throughout, the same lyrics (sometimes witty, but never surprising), and the same mix of heartbreak anger rock and heartfelt acoustic reflection. Digby is more and more (then some more) of the same.

What's Not Plastic? is not a painful listen, but it does not leave the slightest sense of shivers, goose bumps, or increased heart rates. It is boredom at its finest. There is a sadder side to this album given the elements of divorce (both marital and possibly musical) surrounding Digby, but it does not result in Shellac's "Prayer to God" or Kevn Kinney's "What's the Difference". What Digby members may regret most in upcoming years is they had opportunities to create meaningful music, yet relegated projects to the least challenging and least painful avenues.

Tracks like "new america" and "self evaluation" play as polished and shiny as those leather shoes provided with tuxedo rentals, which will leave friends/fans wondering why Digby comes up short. Once artists leave the confines of friendly faces and kind praises though, the world is eager to expose, and, just like those shoes, What's Not Plastic? is little more than appearance (cheap and thin). I never miss those shoes when they're returned the next day.

Tracks added to iPod: None, but thanks for asking.

CD Info and Links

Digby - What's Not Plastic?
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