Falling Up

Album Review

This Louisville, KY, band has inspired comparisons to Weezer and Ben Folds, but if you're over 30 you may find yourself thinking that they sound more like Tom Petty sitting in with Jump, Little Children. Risen from the ashes of local faves 100 Acre Wood, Digby made some radical changes to its previously acoustic-based sound and emerged as a gritty power pop band, balancing the rootsy sounds of Hammond organ and tastefully distorted guitar with a dab of strings here and the occasional hint of a drum loop there. The group is at its most irresistible on medium-tempo rockers like "Minerva," "One Hundred Percent Free," and the simple but gorgeous "Falling Up to the Stars," but when they drop the temperature to a slow simmer they can be very effective as well, as they do on "Keep Your Distance." Every so often the flame goes out, though, and "So Low" meanders aimlessly before picking up a small amount of steam and then fizzling to a close. But the spectacular one-two punch of "Some Can Hear" and "'Til the Morning" makes up nicely for that lapse and ends the album powerfully. Then comes the coda, a hidden track called "Cigarettes and Magazines" by the band's labelmate, the Muckrakers. It's a strange moment, but a good song. Highly recommended.