Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2010

© Lucky Number/Hostess

Does one cute, catchy, lo-fi gem of a song (and great Jeri curls) a career make? This is the question posed by Darwin Deez’s “Constellation,” a witty take on “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” that changes the famous refrain to “Wrinkle, wrinkle, little scar.” Actually, there are plenty more charming lo-fi numbers on Darwin Deez, including the joyful second single “Radar Detector.” Darwin Smith—a vegan waiter from Brooklyn—implicitly understands the essence of pop songcraft, and the critical references to “a hippy Strokes” aren’t so far off the mark. But the cheap ’80s handclap samples and falsetto protestations of love begin to grow old as the album proceeds. Can Smith develop his memorable hooks and spandex jumpsuits into a lasting career? Check him out at Summer Sonic’s Dance Stage on August 8 and judge for yourself.

“Summer Sonic 2010”
Aug 7-8, 10am, ¥15,800 (one day)/¥29,000 (two days). Chiba Marine Stadium & Makuhari Messe, Chiba. Tel: Creativeman 03-3462-6969.