Danny Denial is an ex-LA filmmaker, now in Seattle, proving he belongs in music.
Background
Today, Danny released his full-length album, Goodbye — a 10 track production that I’ve been waiting to write about for a while.
As a post-punk/alternative act, Danny is joined by friends Adam Cignatta (keys/bass) and Ian Dexter-Crawford (drums). They cite 70’s punk, 80’s new wave, and 90’s alternative as their key influences. You can usually find the group playing gigs at El Corazon, Columbia City Theater, and the historic Crocodile. On this coming Wednesday, March 8th, you can catch Danny Denial’s album release show @ The Crocodile for $5 at the door.
Just over a month ago, we featured Danny’s music video for “Caliphornia”, which is one of the gems off Goodbye. You can read that piece below, where we gave it a 4.5/5.
[irp posts=”394059″ name=”Danny Denial, Caliphornia””]
Thoughts
“Blow Up Your Whole Life” mini film:
We can’t help but remember that Danny just used to be in film. Tracks on Goodbye like “Satan Monica” tells us a lot about his experiences in film and the industry in general, but this mini film is a fantastic blend of his creative talents.
The song itself is fantastic alone — at the heart of which is a rhythmically perfect collection of lines just like this:
“And tell me what you do again / how much did you make this year / in doing better than your friends”
Once you find yourself ruminating over the lyrics yourself, you can’t help but to begin saying the words in your head just as you heard Danny arrange them. It’s addictive, contagious, and just one small part of a larger group of incredible creations. Directing the video, Danny seems to be staying authentic to the roots of the song — there’s a very real, cohesive story being told which makes it all the more human and immersive.
Goodbye:
Give it a listen — you’re likely to find something you won’t be able to get out of your head today.
“$ell Me Out” isn’t afraid to be rough around the edges. You get a heavy helping of deeper, satisfying percussion to complement the gradual escalation you find. Part reflection, part internal rebellion, there’s a grander story being told. I kept getting distracted by the emotion and passion behind the vocals in the track, until getting shaken back awake by the guttural screams.
“Lizard In Love” is an easy track to fall for. Danny here finds a balance between the other-worldly experimentation that starts the song out and the terrestrial echoes of his own voice. It’s lighter than what you get treated to in “Corey Haim”, finding a foothold despite always seeing Danny write that “[he] sounds like everyone else.”
“Youth” closes off Goodbye with a ferocity and intentionality that neatly draws the album to an end. Refreshingly frank lyrics leave a darkened impression of the work altogether, as if there’s another level of complexity and symbolism you missed even if you listened closely.
Favorite line off the whole album? “I’m so sober I can’t think”
5/5 on the album.
We’ll let Danny himself send us off:
“A year ago, I let it all go; now here I am, with nothing left to lose. This project is a culmination of another bad year, a scrapbook of near death experiences and roads less traveled. And I couldn’t have made it without the help of everyone who supported these shoe-string offerings along the way.
Thank you. And goodbye.”
Support
Goodbye is available on all major platforms & outlets. You can grab a signed, CD copy of the album on Bandcamp. Alternatively, you can find the album on iTunes, as well as Amazon, and even on Spotify. Keep up with Danny’s news via their Facebook page.
