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Devin Davis

Lonely People Of The World, Unite! (2005)
Animal World

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Marlon
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on June 7th 2005

It’s hard to live in a basement and not get carried away, when you’re a caveman on the pavement in the U.S.A.

A lot of normal men would have gone crazy if they had gone through the same process Devin Davis did to create Lonely People of The World, Unite! Every night for two years, Davis nibbled towards his goal of a full-length album when his shift at the studio he engineered at was over. Well, the Chicago native should be able to rest easy knowing he didn’t waste two years of his life, as all of the time and work he put in has coughed out one of the best indie power-pop albums of the year.

The CD starts out full force with the toe-tapping, guitar pop, Kinks-influenced, would-be single “Iron Woman,” and 2 minutes and 16 seconds later you’ll be wondering what’s just happened…and then immediately asking for more. It won’t even occur to you that Davis pulls off so easily what would usually be considered cheesy. Even throughout the pensive lost love ballads (standout tracks like the opener and “Turtle And The Flightless Bird”) the word “emo” will never jump into your mind.

While Davis doesn’t redefine music in anyway (direct comparisons could be drawn to Neutral Milk Hotel, Neil Young, and lighter or acoustic Death Cab For Cutie tracks) or do what others haven’t previously accomplished, he does manage to pull it off in a much more loveable way. It’s hard to defy Davis’ infectious pop music, and I can’t place my finger on why, perhaps due to his cheeky, introspective lyrics (which feel more like narratives than pages from a diary) or maybe his friendly, dinkish indie music geek singing voice (and he somehow channels Ben Gibbard in appearance to…) is what keeps the songs afloat.

On Lonely People of The World, Unite! Davis provides a little helpful support in the minds of all the music geeks just like himself. Why be sad fellas? At least we have the music! At least we have each other! And ya know what? Worthwhile catchy music comes in small increments these days, so maybe if you’re in a car underwater and you have some time to kill…you should pick up this record… And then I just might respect you a tad bit more.

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CallingLondon (July 11, 2005)

holy crap those are some damn fine songs on that site. this may be my next purchase. but iron woman sounds kind of familiar. what song am i thinking of?

tylerdurden8136 (July 7, 2005)

damn it marlon, as much as i hate to agree with you, this is one damn good album.

Anonymous (July 7, 2005)

i hate when waiters or bartenders call everyone "chief" or "boss"

they always say it with a smirk...its almost like they are calling you "jackass"

Gowb (July 7, 2005)

Calling people "kids" is fine no matter what the age. Calling someone "son" is just dumb, much akin to calling someone "chief". It makes you sound retarded.

Anchors (July 7, 2005)

I call people "kids" and "son", and I'm barely 19, so you're safe Sickboi.

Marlon (July 7, 2005)

Word, sickboi!

sickboi (July 7, 2005)

"Kids" is slang. I'm only 25, so I don't mean me the adult, versus a child. I mean the "kids".

Nevermind.

-sickboi

Marlon (July 7, 2005)

I like Face to Face...
Oh and like adults don't listen to shitty music... right...

Inspection12e (July 7, 2005)

Don't Turn Away is a great cd.

Anonymous (July 7, 2005)

What the fuck is wrong with Face to Face? "Big Choice" and "Don't Turn Away" are better than most of the shit you kids listen to today...

-sickboi

Inspection12e (July 7, 2005)

The elitism rages on!

Marlon (July 7, 2005)

Because I know who Ben Gibbard is I automatically listen to The Postal Service?

Anonymous (July 7, 2005)

based on this review i ordered this from the record store. up the music shack punx.
-TOBB

swingline (July 7, 2005)

score's for mc lars. tate told me to not judge him untill i hear "signing emo" ... what a fagster mcfaggot.

Gowb (July 7, 2005)

Score is for Nintendogs.

rkl (July 6, 2005)

Do you realize that the word is reference?
Also, listening to the Postal Service nullfies any rights you might've had to criticize other people's tastes. its okay though, theres still time. I liked face to face when i was in high school.

Marlon (July 6, 2005)

Do you realize the refference is making fun of anyone who listens to Armor For Sleep?

DouglasTheFishie (July 6, 2005)

Score is for reference to armor for sleep's excellent "what to do when you are dead" ( the bit about the car underwater with time to kill). Excellent Stuff!

Marlon (July 6, 2005)

Yeah it was rough on my morales to let someone I loathe support my rap career but after awhile the ass kissing is kind of nice.

rkl (July 6, 2005)

Devin Davis - Lonely People Of The World, Unite!
Posted by sickboi on 2005-07-05 14:25:54

Indie rock kids can't handle criticism. If they've discovered "the next big thing", and you don't dig it, it's because you have limited musical tastes and don't understand it.

this is why i dont talk music with my irl friends anymore. every week its a new band, and they all seem to have "fire" in the name. if i wanted to hear people whine to music id go get my job back at the daycare.

LevitateMe (July 6, 2005)

While this has become nothing close to talk about the album...this is good. 9 is a little high, but it's a very solid album. I was a little skeptical about the NMH mention in the review, but I do hear it in songs like "Cannons at the Courthouse." Anyway, nice album and nice review.

kirbypuckett (July 6, 2005)

SICKBOI AND MARLON GOT A RECORD CONTRACT!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/kirbypucket t/MCMARS.jpg

- Kirby

For those that do not know, that is a mock cover of MC Lars' "Laptop ep," a self-proclaimed 'emo rapper' who is adored by Tate.

Original cover

Inspection12e (July 5, 2005)

I was just playing Halo 2. Where were you idiots?

Marlon (July 5, 2005)

They call me the black mage/ I'm full of venemous rage/ jumped on stage with a shotgun and blew up the front row at point blank range/ Some say I'm strange/ Others play deranged/ But I know for certain all these mother fuckers know my name

kirbypuckett (July 5, 2005)

I'll talk about this snorefest if you post that rap about shotguns Mar.

- Kirby

BlAquaCadetZstyles (July 5, 2005)

By the way, the way the PS2's online works is that it's all decentralized, so companies are able to charge if they want. Some games cost money, most don't. The only one I can think of that you have pay money for is FFXI. That said...I still prefer the infrastructure. You can contact people playing different games than you and everyone has the same gamertags...it's just really cohesive.

threechordsandthetruth (July 5, 2005)

haha, the stuff below made this review worth reading. I suggest more battle raps, less reviews.

PN really needs a forum so this offtopic shit can be kept updated.

Marlon (July 5, 2005)

So anybody wana talk about Devin Davis or like... is it video game central now?

Anonymous (July 5, 2005)

psp is totally worth it

socre is for that

kirbypuckett (July 5, 2005)

I have an XBOX but I refuse to pay for XBOX live when PS2 is free....

I thought that at first too, however, the XBox Live system functions much better, even if you have to shell out some extra cash. Everything is neatly organized and you can easily contact your friends, see what games they're playing, or join them midgame, I've also noticied that it's much more stable.

It's like $50 a year and most newer games come with a two month free trial, in the end I think it's really worth it.

kirbypuckett (July 5, 2005)

Is there a reason to buy a PSP yet? They have them at Costco with two games for a semi reasonable price.

Head on over to pspupdates.com. The PSP has one of the fastest running communities when it comes to 'hacking' the device.

You can run everything from custom applications to old Nintendo ROMS.

- Kirby

Anonymous (July 5, 2005)

nintendo gs?

ElVaquero (July 5, 2005)

wait for nintendogs, dawg.

Anonymous (July 5, 2005)

Is there a reason to buy a PSP yet? They have them at Costco with two games for a semi reasonable price.

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

No, for the regular PS2, just buy the modem for $30, and you can play any game online free...

Anonymous (July 5, 2005)

ps2 online is free if you havwe the slim ps2 which has the onlnie setup disc comes with it

BlAquaCadetZstyles (July 5, 2005)

That is, people who add me to their friends list are so cool that the stars can't even begin to encompass the how cool they are.

BlAquaCadetZstyles (July 5, 2005)

Score is for people who add me to their friends list on XBL for Halo. The name is BloodyPixelfast

stevejonestherealbones (July 5, 2005)

wait, ps2 has free online service?

do you just have to buy the modem thing or what?

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

I have an XBOX but I refuse to pay for XBOX live when PS2 is free....

stevejonestherealbones (July 5, 2005)

is there a little community of punknews that play halo 2 live?

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Anonymous (July 5, 2005)

Okkervil River needs to go back making more songs like "Westfall"

kirbypuckett (July 5, 2005)

marlon, why didn't you rap about shotguns?

sickboi, go get an xbox and halo 2, all we do is make fun of marlon.

- kirby

xbox live gamertag: skauwt...i think.

Anchors (July 5, 2005)

God damnit, how did I miss message board freestyling.

I'll get you bastards next time.

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

Yeah money. I don't let a message board make me mad at anyone. Even Tate. I just laugh at most of the ridiculous fuckos on here.

Marlon (July 5, 2005)

Wait why am I the girl?

Hey Sickboi are we cool G?

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

Jones wins. Hands down.

(walks away with head down)

stevejonestherealbones (July 5, 2005)

i shoulda spent more time on that. still has some kinks

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

stevejonestherealbones (July 5, 2005)

ok. heres my lyrical stylings

"sickboi and marlon sitting in a tree

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

first comes love love then comes marriage

then comes sickboi's anal toys"

you dorks got served

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

Oh, that was a typo.

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

Its all in delivery.

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

Come on Jonesy, spit some fire, I know you gots mad lyrical skillz...

Marlon (July 5, 2005)

Dude you pronounce Maryland way wrong if that ryhymes to you.

stevejonestherealbones (July 5, 2005)

ok. its settled

both of you guys are fucking dorks

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Marlon (July 5, 2005)

Hey no fair! Your rap was actually good! Dammit...

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

"Yeah your rhymes, make me ill, cause they smell like shit,
Don't make me cut your ass down with dis sharp-ass wit;
Talking about my town, where you from son, Marlyand?
With bitches like you running 'round, I'm thinking more like "Fairyland"?

Ain't much better down here, with all these scenester-bitch-dorks,
wearing inronic 80's clothing, like shirts with the "Snorks"

I'm done with you, you just got shut down,
Save yourself a little respect, you wack-ass clown."

Marlon (July 5, 2005)

Devin Davis isn't my next big thing (diss away) Okkervil River is bitches! I just had that Sickboi impression stored away for AWHILE and no opportunity to use it. Plus I didn't think you'd care or take it badly or get pissed (and I still think I'm right about that).

Now for dangerous battle rhymes!

My rhymes are so ill I think you might get sick, boy!
Cause your wack bars only serve to annoy
I'm thinking everyone from RVA should just throw in the towel
I mean who do yall have other than "Wow, Owls!"?
I'll give props though I hear it's awesome punk scene
So we'll call this a truce if you promise to subscribe to my indie webzine

WHAT?!

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

"My name is sickboi, the all-time great,
I bust the most rhymes in VA state"

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

Indie rock kids can't handle criticism. If they've discovered "the next big thing", and you don't dig it, it's because you have limited musical tastes and don't understand it.

Marlon (July 5, 2005)

I didn't say you were name dropping I said I was.

I agree with the rap battling idea! If Sickboi agrees to post a few bars I will follow up!

Inspection12e (July 5, 2005)

I think alot of bands suck. It's all a matter of opinion.

p-fresh (July 5, 2005)

You guys should battle rap.

Anonymous (July 5, 2005)

wow marlon. you kinda jumped off the handle with that one.

maybe if sickbois comment was abrasive at all you could have wrote that, but all he basically said was, "i dont like this sound it reminds me of mellencamp"

he didnt say anything about punk and used complete sentences and didnt use any of that "wtf" or "omg" shit.

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

Wu Tang sucks?

See, see the ignorance in motion, kids?

If you "don't like them", fine, diferent strokes for different folks, but to say "they suck"? Yeah, ummm, you know VERY little about hip-hop.

And my list was in no way "name-dropping", I named pretty much all commercial acts.

PS - Talib Kweli hasn't had a good album since "Reflection Eternal".

p-fresh (July 5, 2005)

Score is for Sickboi calling Marlon a "fucking retard".

I lol'ed.

Marlon (July 5, 2005)

I need aloe for my burn wounds!

All I can say to that is that I have pretty diverse tastes to (Name dropping section: Talib Kweli, Nas, Jeff Gloub, Keiko Matsui). I kind of thing Wu Tang sucks though dude... There's no witty retorts though.

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

Yeah, because that's all I listen to, you fucking retard.

Pietasters, Miles Davis, Wu Tang, Hall and Oates, Marvin Gaye, N.E.R.D., .... I could go on.

Just because I don't suck the dick of every hip indie rock sudden-senation doesn't mean I have limited tastes.

Owned bitch.

Marlon (July 5, 2005)

This is my Sickboi impression: "OMGWTBBBQ?! THIS ISN'T PUNK! THIS ISN'T MELODIC HARDCORE! WTF?!?!?!?!?!?!"

sickboi (July 5, 2005)

I guess this is where its at these days. Not for me, sounds like John Cougar Melloncamp.

slippy (July 5, 2005)

Nice review man. You have me interested.

Inspection12e (July 5, 2005)

Score is for my typing skills. skills*

Inspection12e (July 5, 2005)

Score is for Marlons Halo 2 skils.

Anonymous (July 5, 2005)

Score is for "Iron Woman." I've had that MP3 for a while, and man, it's great.

Gowb (July 5, 2005)

Another excellent review, Marlon. Let's go listen to some Pennywise now.

BlAquaCadetZstyles (July 5, 2005)

I really enjoyed this album. It's actually fun. The indie kids are gonna get shocked when they find out that Ted Leo isn't the only one who can have a good time.