The Mimico Sessions EP
Self-released
4 Stars

Connecticut—a barren radio wasteland left raped and ravaged by the demonic Clear Channel. Recently, one broadcast signal managed to flee its evil overlords and return to privatized, local ownership. The new format harkens back to the station’s glory days before conglomerates swooped in and destroyed it. While it is vastly removed from anything resembling an underground pirate radio station, 104.1 WMRQ is the only station in Connecticut to support the sub-mainstream alternative rock featured in larger markets on station’s like Boston’s WBCN and, once upon a time, New York’s K-Rock. WMRQ is a beacon of hope in sea populated by pop, pop hip-hop, and pop country. Starving audiophiles can hear current acts like Kings Of Leon and MGMT alongside obscure ‘90s classics from Marcy Playground and Primitive Radio Gods. Again, nothing revolutionary but still absurdly uncommon in the Nutmeg State. This all makes itself relevant in relation to Darlings Of Chelsea not because the band sounds especially like anything mentioned earlier but because it paints a vivid picture of where you’ll likely hear them by the end of the year.

Despite just six months together as a band and no record label, their polished and refined style of classic yet contemporary rock not only appeases the musically educated but exudes the mass appeal needed to land Darlings Of Chelsea on the covers of magazines and the tops of the charts. The Mimico Sessions doesn’t represent a first step or a work in progress. It screams Darlings Of Chelsea’s arrival on the scene and demands they be noticed—now.

What helps separate Darlings Of Chelsea from similar style acts is the true guitar showcase. The downfall of other throwback bands like Jet and The Darkness was their focus on cringe-worthy vocals. Granted, Sean Robertson’s voice is way up in the mix but it doesn’t dominate. Listeners can appreciate the galloping rhythms and breakneck fretwork without the lead singer getting in the way. Not that Robertson has anything to hide. He possesses a seemingly endless array of vocal stylings that seamlessly adapt to whatever the song demands. He summons the ghost of John Fogerty to accompany ‘70s southern rock influences in “Sleezy Rock’n’Roller.” Robertson doesn’t even wait for the song to change to switch it up in some cases. On “I Want Your Love,” he screams better and longer than Dave Grohl before instantly settling in for an intimate breakdown leading into a catchy chorus—something else the band does ridiculously well.

The songwriting on The Mimico Sessions is top-notch and that makes the biggest difference in separating Darlings Of Chelsea from what you typically hear on the radio. Too many acts plug and play. Darlings Of Chelsea craft their music to highlight what they do best. While the songs don’t run very long, they let the guitars breathe, making plenty of time for quick but intricate solos that play to the song. That last part can’t be overstated. Musicians throw in solos just to show off rather than determine if they work for the song. Guitarists Jay Millette and Paul Thompson integrate identifying characteristics into their spotlight moments so the solos become part of the song rather than interruptions to the music.

That philosophy extends to the album as a whole as well. While The Mimico Sessions carries the “EP” moniker, it plays more cohesively and completely than the majority of records you’ll find. And in the same way Darlings Of Chelsea use solos only when appropriate, they don’t succumb to the temptation to put in the obligatory and radio-friendly ballad, giving the album a euphoric energy that surely translates to an unforgettable live show.

While not incredibly diverse, each song sounds rich and fresh. Darlings Of Chelsea deftly define who they are without becoming repetitive and formulaic. So few bands achieve that today. They either can’t nail down a definitive identity or they record the same song in different arrangements over and over again. The band also fills a woefully empty spot in modern music—the straight-up rock band. We, as music aficionados, have become so obsessed with labeling that it seems each band warrants its own genre and scene. Darlings Of Chelsea need no intricate and often indefinable categories. They rock. Hard. And they do it so well it really doesn’t matter what you call them. While some made deride The Killers or the Foo Fighters for their popularity, the fact is they’re damn good at what they do too. The tight, crisp, clean songs featured on Darlings Of Chelsea’s first EP sound right at home among those luminaries. Don’t be surprised when they show up on Conan in the coming months. – KYLE ANDRUKIEWICZ

Band’s Website | MySpace