It’s hard to classify Doobinin’s sound. He clearly falls within the singer-songwriter genre, yet that designation seems limiting somehow, seems to pigeonhole Doobinin who offers much more than what one conventionally expects from a guy with a guitar. His sound is big, impressively big, for just one person. This is clearly his strength, the ability to sound almost like a full band with a multi-layered sound. He has a ton of potential and I think he has staying power. The album itself is fairly conventional indie-rock, but it becomes immediately obvious to the listener that Doobinin is capable of much more. You will definitely not be disappointed or bored if you pick up his latest release, but you also won’t be completely blown away. I expect more from his next effort.
The title track, “One Station Away,” is an up-tempo number, I really enjoyed the beat. It has a bluesy quality, and scathing lyrics like “Cancer is a joke.” Despite the tempo, this is not an optimistic happy song.
Doobinin’s influences are varied and “Houston” seems reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel and Paul Simon’s solo efforts. It’s one of the better “singer-songwriter” tracks and the acoustic guitar adds a heartfelt sensibility that is missing from some of the faster numbers.
My favourite track on the album is definitely “Man vs. Machine.” It’s fast, has a really interesting instrumental intro and is less conventional and mainstream than the rest of the album. On “Man vs. Machine” the listener really gets to see Doobinin’s talent as both a musician and a songwriter. This song captured my attention and convinced me that Doobinin has a lot more to offer than sweet sounding, standard indie-rock.
His lyrics are poignant and often sad, and cannot easily be dismissed. I found myself not only humming the tunes hours after listening but also thinking about the lyrics themselves. His anecdotes are touching and sincere, and this album captured me on an intellectual level unlike most popular music.
If you’re in the mood for a little New York, then this isn’t a bad album to pick up. The songwriting is refreshing and the music is pleasing, though I feel like Doobinin hasn’t quite exploited the full capabilities of his talent. Maybe next time.
