Dig These Discs :: Diamond Rings, Daphne Willis, Lance Horne, Ben + Vesper, Werkschau

Unfortunately this week, it's a mixed bag folks. There are some singers who have a knack for writing but have some serious vocal issues, singers who have no idea who they are, a label trying to prove who they are with a compilation, and yes - a diamond in the aural rough.

Diamond Rings

Sounding like a mix between Adam Ant and The Killers, Diamond Rings breaks out with a new album titled "Special Affections." The former lead singer to the Canadian band The D'Urbervilles has a deep-throated voice reminiscent of Rick Astley that goes against his otherwise androgynous look. Diamond Rings (real name John O'Regan, and called John O by his friends) definitely knows how to write a catchy pop song though his vocal performance is fairly monotonous. With lack of variety in emotional vocal delivery, he sounds more robotic with each passing track. Ultimately, Diamond Rings makes interesting music that ends up being just mediocre due to the vocals. (Currently on tour with Robyn)

Daphne Willis

Daphne Willis returns with a sophomore album "Because I Can." The 23-year-old singer knows how to nail "pop" without delving into sticky sweet saccharine. For the most part, the songs on the album are light and fun and have an almost classical feel to them. Willis' voice is PERFECT for these tracks and the album is classy all the way through. Sounding like a more mature (and less country) Taylor Swift, Willis is poised for big things especially considering her writing abilities. (she co-wrote most of the songs including "I Want To" which is a highlight of the album. With a voice full of deep meaning and with the ability to convey emotions better than singers twice her age, and with the right help and a little luck, Willis - who recently relocated to Nashville - is sure to become a household name.

Ben + Vesper

Listening to the new album by Ben + Vesper, I am reminded of "Saturday Night Live" characters Kat and Garth from the sketch comedy's Weekend Update segment. For those reading who are unfamiliar with these characters, Kat and Garth always show up unprepared and try to sing in harmony with each other while making up the lyrics. Sadly, many parts of Ben + Vesper's "Honors" sound as if the duo decided to record without rehearsal. Despite this, the songs are beautifully arranged and Sufjan Stevens should be lauded for his efforts on the piano. Ultimately, "Honors" is a folk/pop offering that has some euphoric moments, but all too often the songs meander their way through relatively short run times. It may not be for everyone, but for them it's perfect.

Lance Horne

The multi-talented Lance Horne - an Emmy Award winning composer, lyricist, singer, pianist, producer and music director, takes an interesting approach with his debut album "First Things Last." The album includes songs from several musicals he wrote and almost every track has a guest artist who appears with Horne. The fabulous lineup is :: Alan Cumming, sexy Cheyenne Jackson, Daphne Rubin-Vegas, and Ricki Lake to name a few. One flaw of this concept is that the guests tend to overshadow the artist, and we never truly get a sense of what Lance can do individually. Horne crosses many genres on this offering from country ("Leap") to Broadway ("America") and even pop ("Every Moment") to comedic ("Little White Asparagus Blues"). It's not hard to see why Horne has been honored for his musical abilities; his songs are well crafted. The highlight of the album is surely "Strange Bird" complete with dazzling vocals from Cheyenne Jackson. "Haircut" dwells at the bottom of this album. Are you a "Broadway Baby"? "First Things Last" is surely for you.

Werkschau

To commemorate 12 years in the business, BPitch Control has compiled a set of 17 previously unreleased songs to showcase (that's what "werkschau" means in German) the best the label has to offer from its vaults. Including a personal contribution from label head Ellen Allien, "Werkschau" never misses a beat of Germany's premiere electronic house music and the album flows steadily. In fact, at times the songs actually end up blending a little too well and it's hard to differentiate between them without looking at a track listing. Check it out!