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THE DAILY TARHEEL
Keegan Dewitt
Islands
Pop
4.5 of 5 stars
Keegan DeWitt has embarked upon the third phase of his full-length career, and on Islands, his latest release, he demonstrates the dexterity of the highest quality musicians, crafting a menagerie of delicate, cinematic songs that beg to be explored.
DeWitt’s voice, like a blanket on a cold rainy day, is the album’s biggest asset. From the first song on Islands, DeWitt’s purr instantly draws the listener in, transferring the emotion packed into the lyrics directly to his audience.
Like Roman Candle, the band that produced Islands and with which he regularly plays, DeWitt never falters in intensity. Instead, he translates the frantic energy of his rock and roll counterparts and fellow Nashville crooners into a soft, powerful brand of pop.
And while Islands utilizes a plethora of instruments, the album never loses its effortlessness. DeWitt maintains a nuanced softness that never sounds contrived or overdone — on the contrary, he makes harmonica-laden tunes like “Walk Alone,” a sorrowful song about the difficulties of starting anew after an unsuccessful relationship, sound perfectly natural.
“Complicated” epitomizes everything that DeWitt gets right on Islands. From its initial chords, the melody transfixes as he sings “Need it, fake it, you can’t complicate it, it’s love.”
The bittersweet lyrics and steady, building momentum create an incredible intimacy, especially when violins and trumpets whine slowly in the background.
The depth on Islands — ranging from its haunting vocals to its multi-dimensional instrumentation — seems limitless, the kind of record that withstands multiple listens without ever growing dull. Islands is like an iceberg— and clearly, DeWitt aims to engage listeners far below surface level.
