Hot Indie News
By Tingyu Shen
Dave King: Shades of Dave – CD Review
Rating: 4/5

"I love the tone of this album. Dave King was frank from the first song to the last about his heartbreaks and his other feelings. We need more artists like him who believed in what he sang before he sang it, even though some of it was rather unrealistic and probably too hopeful.

I have nothing against being hopeful, I just don’t see how something really horrible happens to anyone, and I mean horrible as in being paralyzed except for an eyeball, a person can still be hopeful. So instead of singing about “We’re Gonna Get Past the Bad Stuff”, maybe he should try to sing about how to get through the bad stuff because just singing about staying positive is most likely not going to help.

From the adept and apt guitar playing to his smooth singing that carried the album, the album sounds pretty much impeccable."
 

Indie-Music.com
"Never have I heard a dude sing about heartbreak and mean it. And then I witnessed the Americana white boy with soul, Dave King. His new album, Shades of Dave, impresses with its surprisingly open and personal approach to songwriting. Like Tom Petty with a little Mighty Mighty Bosstones touch, King relates his lot in love, alluding to dreams of revenge, but somehow remains positive. In addition to pulling off upbeat lucid folk, King invokes spasms of Bob Dylan-style storytelling to surface from the chaos with an astounding album stuffed with potential for success.

Somehow this Connecticut boy manages a decent twang, but even without it, the simple clarity of his voice compliments his sound remarkably well. Fluid and carrying a hint of reverb, King just sounds honest, sounds like someone who knows what he’s talking about. He promises he’s falling in love with you, and this may be the first time you don’t initially scoff at that phrase. Likewise, King’s promise that We’re Gonna Get Past the Bad Stuff is worth nearly as much as Bob Marley’s “everything is gonna be alright.” That textured bristly voice has to have been through something, and wielding the power of experience, King strides assuredly in the direction of the future.

This one-man wonder not only plays the guitar with notable technical ability, but he also pounds out a few good ones on the keys and doesn’t think twice about tossing in a harmonica or some percussion either. King wails on each with such an intuitive quality, you’d think this album had been recorded live. Northerner he may be, but King’s varied instrumentation lumps a bit of rural urbanism with Louisiana feel-good spirit. His songwriting flows with a lazy, catchy-without-pop-hooks kind of feel, especially The Cold’ll Kill Ya.

Sadly, all women claim they want a sensitive man, and when they get one they’ll tell you he cries too much. Similarly, King’s passion is inspiring, but occasionally his lyrics drag. The Fog and the Wind and the Rain reads slightly sappy. But King’s songwriting clearly is not without saving graces. Nobody Sings To Me remains a solid piece of songwriting, and let’s not forget those vocals too soon. To behold the northerner-does-folk-well phenomenon, be sure to check this out."
 

Past & Present Webzine
"It surprised me that my computer recognized all the song-titles on this album when playing it. I mean that barely happens with self-released albums. At least the ones that I get. Anyways, it’s a funny name this guy has. He just should have been named David. That’d be perfect (get it. King David). Oh well, on to the music. Musically Dave King is yet another addition to the ever growing American singer/songwriter genre. There are just so many of these artists these days that you just can’t seem to separate talent from wanna-be’s anymore. Luckily I’ve been getting a steady flow of great singer/songwriters lately and Dave King is definitely in that category with his intelligently written lyrics and fragile acoustic folk-rock."
 

Smother.net
"Dave King shares with us his genuine folk rock with poignant lyrics and surprising production. Sure he’s going to be inevitably lumped into the sometimes stagnant singer/songwriter category but I daresay that he will break free of those trappings. I like that he doesn’t rely on studio trickery to encompass a raw sound-instead it comes naturally and makes his acoustic rock style absolutely essential. Thanks Dave King for helping us breathe a fresh new scent of air in acoustic rock."
 

"These are the Good Times (from Shades of Dave) was really the only track that I heard from any artist out there at my disposal that could have best fit the final scene of my film, "Larry's Home Video" with it's wholesomeness and tranquil memories of happiness, it helped close out my psychological drama on such an ironic note."
- Scott R. Caseley, Writer/Producer/Director "Larry's Home Video"
myspace.com/larryshomevideo and www.larryshomevideo.com.
 

"I loved it as soon as I heard it."
- Joe Limardi, Y105-FM
 

"Nobody Sings To Me really grabbed me. I think it's very honest and moving."
- Pete Stewart, WPKN-FM
 

"Excellent. It’s all good. I’m still humming it."
- John Kastrinos, De’Vine Soul
 

"I absolutely love the way he sings."
- Philip Cody, Neil Sedaka Collaborator, Musician, Producer
 

"Dave King’s life revolves around music."
- Deborah Rose, New Milford Spectrum
 

"We’re Gonna Get Past The Bad Stuff is a really fine song. I love all the added touches and the extended finale. And I really love Nobody Sings To Me."
- Kevin Wilson, The Rubes
 

"It feels like he’s singing just for me. Made me feel welcome. He’s the kind of musician I could hang with."
- Dave Modisette, Sunset Bay Chapel Band
 

"My favorites are These Are The Good Times and The Fog & The Wind & The Rain."
- Will Michael, J&B Band
 

"The vocals are done in a world-class way. They have a very upfront and personal and honest feel and sound."
- Nathan West, Riverwest Entertainment
 

"His music is great!"
- Alan Siegel, Videomakers
 

"I dig it overall a lot. Fine Work."
- Danny Lovett, The Loft Audio Recording