“Where We Land” - Damien Leith
Damien Leith’s Australian Idol win ushered in a new era for the reality TV show. For the first time, the victor wasn’t shoved into a recording studio to record a prewritten album in a week. Instead, Damien was given the freedom to create a collection of songs that represented him. Some nine months after he took the Idol crown, Damien’s album Where We Land is in stores and sitting pretty at the top of the charts.
So in sales terms, Sony’s gamble has paid off. Australia hasn’t forgotten about Damien. Instead, they were eagerly awaiting this release. I’m happy to say, the wait was worthwhile.
I wasn’t Damien’s biggest fan during his Idol stint. I certainly didn’t dislike the guy, but I preferred eclectic Bobby Flynn and old school rocker Chris Murphy. But I really like this record. It’s given Damien a chance to be himself, rather than a karaoke singer, and he’s a richer artist for it.
Time away from the Idol spotlight has given Damien a chance to grow, both professionally and personally. His trademark falsetto is as pure as ever, but he’s managed to reign it in somewhat. Perhaps on Idol Damien felt he needed to rely on those vocal tricks. Now he can focus on crafting tender lyrics and clever melodies.
His personal life has certainly given him fuel for that. After the birth of his second son Jagger, Damien penned the sweet tune “Not Just For the Weekend.” “Beautiful” is a tender ode to his wife. I loved the gentle sadness of “I Still Miss Us,” and “Cold Cold Heart” is rollicking good fun.
Damien made his name from cover versions, and fans will appreciate the ones he’s chosen here. The sparse rendering of Fleetwood Mac’s “Songbird” is breathtaking, and the album’s bonus track “Danny Boy” is a fitting nod to his Irish heritage.
Where We Land is a great indication of the potential of Australia’s revamped Idol franchise. If we can unearth this country’s hidden stars, and give them the time to develop albums of this calibre, the future of our local industry looks bright.
Image source: Wikipedia
Tags: Australian-Idol, Damien-Leith, Fleetwood-Mac, Irish, Where-We-LandRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Album Reviews
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5 opinions for “Where We Land” - Damien Leith
Dawn McArthur
Sep 1, 2007 at 11:32 am
What I love about this Album “Where We Land” is how different songs become meaningful to listeners in different ways. Personally, I find that the heartbreakingly beautiful ‘Alone’ a song to a friends deep grief catches my breath every time and brings tears to my eyes. Not wishing to appear down, but having watched ‘I still Miss Us’ on a Dr Who you tube has given me another perspective on this soulful deeply personal song.The magical ‘The Long Way Back’ is uplifting and catchy. Then you have the upbeat ‘All I Want Is You’, which commercially will make a fantastic 2nd single release and hopefully will be given more air play than ‘22 Steps’. If you listen carefully you can hear the wonderful influences of ABBA and the Beatles, but the lyrics of Damien Leith need to be listened to……they are amazing.
The Braff
Sep 1, 2007 at 3:39 pm
Hello lkatulka
Welcome to the world of Damien Leith. You are correct in saying that this was an eagerly awaited release. The potential of Damien was so evident during 2006. Each time I play ‘Where We Land’ (which is often) I end up having a new favourite track. Every song has meaning and is not just words thrown together. My opinion is that ‘Songbird’ is the best version that has been recorded and that includes Fleetwood Mac the original. Damiens original tracks on the album, all 9 of them deserve a listen. I am now eagerly awaiting his next album to see how diverse it will be, but I am still more than happy to be listening to this one for a long, long time.
lkatulka
Sep 1, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Thanks for stopping by again guys. One of the great things about great art is that it can become meaningful for you, or another person, in different ways depending on external circumstances. I’m glad you’ve all taken something so positive from this release.
I noticed on your Damien message board many people felt I was being harsh to Damien to report on some other media’s criticism of him. That was never my intention. Instead, I wanted to say that the ‘cool critics’ tend to look for any sign of weakness when it comes to the Idol artists. So the single hasn’t sold so well, so what? I figured they should have at least given him the chance to release the album before he was written off.
I think it’s great this album has done so well, and that the quality is behind it. Album sales are one thing (how much crap has gone to number one?), but having a great record behind it is another. That’s what guarantees an artist’s longevity.
The Braff
Sep 1, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Thanks for replying. I have one more thing to say…Hang onto your hat for the next single release, it is going to go all the way. A real crowd pleaser and one that will be great for crowd participation. Bring on the concerts.
lkatulka
Sep 1, 2007 at 9:05 pm
I will do! I actually really liked “22 Steps,” and I’m not sure why it didn’t chart, when so much rubbish does. But hopefully the next single does much better! With all the support he seems to have, I’m sure it will! :-)
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