The Devoted Few -Billboard Noises

Sun 3rd Oct, 2004 in Music Reviews

Not long ago now, at Sydney’s Annandale Hotel, I saw The Devoted Few at the launch of their new album Billboard Noises. Now I’ve also had the pleasure of listening to the recording and I’ve become quite intrigued. Even though I don’t like comparing one artist to another, I’m still a huge culprit of it and with The Devoted Few, I couldn’t find an answer to my question or their unique sound. 

From an ever so slight tinge of country, to experimental sounds, slower ballads and more rock-ish tracks, it’s no wonder it was a recent Feature Album of the Week on Sydney’s FBI 94.5FM and, since being released, is selling exceedingly well. As their website states:

“Ben Fletcher sings you feel he’s singing from his heart, his head, his feet. His lyrics, laid bare, are honest poems sung with passion, lust and fever.” Should I even continue with this or just let you listen?

I completely agree with this, as you can hear the honesty in the lyrics. For example,

disappear entirely
everything is choking tonight
and the only sounds you’ll ever hear is the humming and buzzing of lights

These lyricsm, in particular moved me to a deeper sense of thought, along with an uncanny matter-of-factness. Misery Loves Company is the opening track which immediately sets the mood with the chord progression giving me chills. Counting Cars, a recent addition to the Triple J’s Net 50, seems to be about realisation, obvious by ‘I don’t look to see the daggers I know you have in your eyes.’

It’s Over is a heart-wrenching tale and the potential of being an anthemic break up song if I ever heard one! Lyrically, Desolation Angels is similar, however, the heavier sound gives it a completely different flavour. Nothing Ever Changes begins with some eerie ghost-like sounds which is kind of quirky and Hopetoun Lullaby is exactly that, a nice, quiet little gem of a lullaby, presumably to Sydney’s Hopetoun Hotel. It does have the air of depression hovering over it, however the delicate melody lightens it up a little.

Moving towards the back end of the album, Your Ghosts is familiar sounding track with many influential sound throughout. A real catchy tune that, lyrically, had me intrigued as to what Tess (her name is mentioned in four tracks) had done, or not done as the case may seem, to have such an impact.

Our Life Is Passing Us By shows the depth that is fused within this very intense music: let’s stay up all night and confess to the stars of all the secrets that you tell me and how you’ve run too fardon’t feel alarmed and Tess don’t be afraid of all the people you surround yourself with, they’re all insane….

You Are Not Your Friends just didn’t do it for me. It didn’t show the same fire or shock-value that made had me pondering like the other tracks did. June, July, August is slow and kind of depressing really. Obviously a very powerful song, but I couldn’t listen to it more than once. Anymore, Anyhow is another slow rock-ballad, and even though it seems disheartening at face value, I got a sense of hopefulness out of it.  Given the right coverage, this one should be big!