Vaughn – Identity Crisis – Review

Vaughn

Identity Crisis
by Chris Best

The drummer for Top Dead Center had this revelation: “You remember in Spinal Tap when Nigel says there’s a fine line between genius and stupidity? Well, I’ve found that line. Bob Dylan plays guitar, sings and has a harmonica right in his face, but put cymbals between his knees and a bass drum on his back and he’s a one-man band.” One thing that makes me uneasy about reviewing records is getting a release like this. Self-released CDs are the most heartbreaking cries for musical recognition there is. I get a CD like this and it’s as though the guy is saying “This is my heart, soul, and life blood, and I’m giving it to you.” The reason I get uneasy is that the CDs are rarely any good, and my tendency is to rip anything I don’t like to shreds. I can justify ripping on a band with big-label backing. But a self-released CD by one lone individual is an easier mark than lining up Christopher Reeve, Curtis Mayfield, and Teddy Pendergrass two feet away from you for target practice. So, for once, I’m going to be objective.

Derek Vaughn has potential. He writes solid songs. Better still, he writes songs that sound completely different from one another (not an easy task). His weakness is his personalized viewpoint (and his singing voice). He seems so hell-bent on doing everything himself and showcasing himself, he sacrifices quality. This CD is a textbook case to answer the question, “Why are there record producers?” What Vaughn does not have, but badly needs, is a second opinion. He also should find someone to help him with engineering, as the sound is too weak for the music he’s making. This is in no way meant to put Vaughn down, I mean, I’ve heard the Nine Inch Nails demos, and they sucked. All the songs that sounded so damn boss on Pretty Hate Machine began life as weak pop drivel that would have annoyed even Richard Marx or Kenny Loggins (“That’s What I Get” with acoustic guitar to accent the mix. I’ll say no more.) My point is that his music isn’t that bad, but you wouldn’t know that from the production.