Dave B - Punch Drunk (Album Review)

★★★✩✩

Former Soundcloud crate-digging gem, Dave B, releases his first commercial project, Punch Drunk. It shows a progression all of the previously displayed strengths of Dave B’s music, but doesn’t improve much on the weaknesses. This makes a decent showing for new listeners, but familiar ears may be disappointed in the lack of growth. Punch Drunk (apart from its successors) holds its own, though.

BEATS: ★★★✩✩

Sonically, Dave’s delivery, melodies, and rhythms mesh well with the instrumentals. The beats all set a mood and usually have some cute sample and simple drums. They’re heavy on electronic and synthesized sounds. The hooks usually have a grand transition. Not much else to admire besides that though. The album opens with a very bright, cheery, and upbeat “Outside”. That sound is a huge example of the meshing, because “Outside” is sort of an affectionate song of nostalgia of childhood and the social environment of it. In contrast to “Outside”, most of the rest of the songs are very spacious, dark, and aqueous.

LYRICS: ★★★✩✩

Most of the lyrics here are something to glaze over. While it manages to avoid cringeworthy material, “Punch Drunk” gives no real story or insight. It’s hard to take away much, if anything, from the lyrics. Like in “Cheap Sofa”, initially he seems to be talking about drug dealing, but when he reverts to talking about women, then bragging about his rapping it really just turns into word gumbo. Fortunately, there’s a few interesting and funny moments with Dave’s carefree and lustful personality. A crazy example is in “Rain” where he says, “her intentions so precious, she be like, ‘You wan’ f**?’ I’m like ‘Eh, why you even bother asking? I’m with that!’” Or in Polaroid where he concisely (relative to the rest of the album) praises a woman’s beauty: “The best bread is ready, we netflixin’ heavy, the double D’s is right, that Ed, Edd, and Eddy.”

CONTENT: ★★✩✩✩

As mentioned before, “Punch Drunk” lacks depth. It’s basically the opposite of topical.  “Outside” generally mentions childhood interactions that many may relate to. “Polaroid” is relentless sexual bantering to a faceless woman. “Navy” is a vague breakup song with a flimsy metaphor. “Worth It” features Dave coming home and getting drunk with his mate after returning to “home”. The subjects are fun and lighthearted (aside from “Navy”), and the songs don’t really take themselves all that seriously.

OVERALL: ★★★✩✩

Punch Drunk is for anyone who wants to sing along to some catchy, moody tracks without really thinking about what they’re listening to. Because Punch Drunk really doesn’t challenge the listener in that way unless he/she is looking for something they won’t find. Musically, it’s incredibly listenable, and Dave’s flow is undeniable.

Favorites: “Outside” “Rain” “Polaroid”

Could be skipped for eternity, and I’d never look back or regret:  “Navy”

Read the full version at itzdadiabolical.com