DE'WAYNE - MY FAVORITE BLUE JEANS
DE’WAYNE's sophomore project is a dynamic, zestful look into the life of a young rockstar with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Known for his aggressive stylistic approach and a freeform persona, DE’WAYNE doesn’t seem to let up on us after just releasing his debut album STAINS last summer. He continues to show his raw emotions in this project that lets everyone know that the ideal twenty-something is anything but a lie and that most of us are simply winging it daily and accepting the beauty and ugliness of it all.
The opening single, ‘DIE OUT HERE’ features Florida emo rap artist Poor Stacy. The duo trade off verses that put their fears of becoming broken hearted while existing in a world being held together by a band-aid on full display. DE’WAYNE belts the chorus in such a way that the listener can’t help but feel the heaviness of his words, “Yeah, I don't wanna die out here / Dancing on my grave, no tears…”
The following track ‘SHE’S MY (SEXI BOY)’ is a groovy, bass heavy tune where DE’WAYNE lets whoever listens know that his partner is everything plus more and he has no problem with reminding you of that. It would make sense that a song like this would be followed by a lustful escapade. ‘BLUE JEAN BABE’ sways back and forth between a mellowed bounce in the verses and pre-choruses and into a brief, yet charming chorus. He draws us in opening the song up with the sensual lyrics “Prettiest psychopath I ever seen / I get distracted by your denim jeans / I get the angles right when you in front of me / They shooting cameras, but we let 'em see everything…”
‘DECLINED’ picks up where ‘DIE OUT HERE’ left off, expressing the discontent and frustration that comes with being young and broke while trying to hold it together all at once. This is one of those songs where he structures the conflict so well and conveys the emotions of self-hatred so vividly that if you didn’t know him, you would think that he has experienced the embarrassment of a declined debit card himself. Like other songs on the album, in essence it is a melancholic poem. However, the magic of DE’WAYNE’s voice and production and the undeniable gusto that alt/punk is known for almost makes you forget what’s at the heart of the piece.
‘LONELY HOUSE’ traverses that complicated space where someone catches feelings for another but wonders whether it's the boredom of single life or the passion of whimsical love. DE’WAYNE musters up a volcano of lovesick rock poetry in the first verse. “Who would’ve thought? / ‘Cause we were just friends from the start / But now you’re pulling on my heart” “I don’t hate it ‘cause I’m learning who you are / Didn’t take that long to realize / You and I, you and I, we got a vibe / Didn’t take that long to realize / I’m only insecure ‘cause you might leave me for another guy…”
Midway through the album we come across ‘THANK YOU FOR LYING’ a tender thank you note to his father who underestimated him when he was younger. He touches on his father’s drinking habits and the way it affected him as a kid but eventually forgives him because that negativity became his motivation (“Thank you for lying to me, Your fire’s my gasoline…”). DE’WAYNE is joined by Canadian-American singer grandson, on ‘GOOD MOOD’, an adrenaline boosting joint that exerts self-assuredness thematically and sonically. ‘REIGN’S SONG’ builds off of that drive in this saccharine love song with a nice midtempo swing that feels very mid-2000s. ‘SIMPLE’ is perhaps one of the album’s best tracks. With the help of duo I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, DE’WAYNE presents a lush, toned down arousal to an unnamed lover who has completely won his affection but is giving him the cold shoulder.
‘TAKE THIS CROWN’ acts as a great lead into the conclusion of the album. He is joined by punk rock outfit Good Charlotte. The songs expands upon the old adage of “Heavy is the head that wears the crown,” with themes that you can tell DE’WAYNE put a lot of thought into. In this song, the singer struggles to remain level-headed when so many outside forces beyond his control are wearing him out. He explores that common wish that many popular artists young and old have had where they feel like their career is a baggage on them that they want lifted. On the closure ‘37 MINUTES’, DE’WAYNE tries to show his partner that despite his flaws and frequent blunders, he will still try his best to be a good companion.
The luster of My Favorite Blue Jeans never fades away. DE’WAYNE manages to maneuver his way around the menacing phenomenon known as the “sophomore slump” that commonly happens to artists in every genre. With the rich quality of his past and present work, he will definitely be an emerging artist to pay close attention to.
Alana Brown-Davis
★★★★☆