Album Review: Dawes, Passwords

Easy Listening Misstep From The Goldsmith Gang

Dawes have been plying their trade successfully since debuting in 2009, breaking through somewhat with 2011's fine Nothing Is Wrong and its lead single, 'Time Spent In Los Angeles'.

Comparisons to the classic Laurel Canyon sound of Crosby, Stills & Nash and especially Neil Young were warranted, and they know what they're doing on stage too, if their Electric Picnic appearances are anything to go by.

Unfortunately, they seem to be treading water a bit here. Things start off strong: 'Living In The Future' is fashioned around a big riff that will have Young's attorneys scouring through the archive hoping for a writ, and a pleasingly filthy guitar solo, but it stands out a bit from the mostly mellow fare on offer elsewhere. 'Stay Down', 'Crack The Case' and 'I Canıt Love' are all acoustic guitars over gentle swathes of eighties keyboards.

‘Feed The Fire’ picks things back up a bit with a good chorus and a sitar/guitar solo, but ‘My Greatest Invention’ slows it down again. 'Telescope' tries to get a groove going, albeit an ever so gentle one, as does 'Mistakes We Should Have Made', which finds vocals man Taylor Goldsmith declaring "Let's rock n' roll!" - a suggestion that goes sadly unanswered.

'Never Gonna Say Goodbye' and 'Time Flies Either Way' conclude the record in a similarly easy going fashion, the saxophone on the latter drifting far to close to Jazz FM to do anyone any good.

It’s not bad - it's all lovingly played, sung and produced - but it floats by without really grabbing you, just a bit too West Coast and mellow to really take hold.

Rating: 6/10