Album: What is Love?
Artist: Never Shout Never
Release Date: January 26, 2010
Sire Records
So far managing to build a fan base off multiple EPs, 19-year-old Christofer Drew, better known as Never Shout Never, is leaving the kids' table behind as he releases his first full-length album, What is Love?, on Jan 26.
Launching his career with The Yippee EP back in the summer of 2008, the Midwest native has made quick work of serenading his peers with smooth acoustic melodies, even winning himself the headlining spot on the spring AP Tour.
What is Love? continues in the same way, centering around the concept of love and loss. The title track tackles this idea head on, following the thoughts of a boy whose father cheats on his mother.
In a soft but mildly angry tone, Drew wonders what love truly is if people can throw it away so easily, singing, 'And I know you're oh, so sorry dad/ I truly believe that you're a better man/ than to share one kiss and then give away/ all the love you come home every day.'
Yet you can lose love by never giving it a chance, as shown in 'Jane Doe,' where Never Shout Never laments that he was 'terribly convinced that you could be my lover/ but I think I lost my chance/ you had me at first glance/ oh, my Jane Doe.'
With other songs such as 'Love Is Our Weapon' and 'I Love You 5,' Drew appears to be as bewildered about love as the pre-pubescent boy he stole his looks from.
The eight-track album comes across as a little short, but two bonus songs, 'Damn Dog' and 'Fifteen' (on iTunes only), can make up the length.
Although it may appear that Never Shout Never is reiterating the same sentiments over and over, he takes a different twist on it every time. The variety of angles, such as the previous anger in 'I Just Laugh' and the interesting view in 'What is Love?,' proves that the young talent of Never Shout Never will continue to surprise.
E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com
