Dross
The Age of Ignorance
© 2005 Michael Daross (634479150418)
CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.
SPECIAL: 40% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!
Smart, jazzy indie pop-rock. Lush arrangements and deep grooves surrounding bold, meticulously-crafted lyrics. Catchy, but different.
tracks
try this
genres you will love
By Location
Recommended if you like ...
notes
Subtlety is rare these days. With the goal of resurrecting complexity and depth in modern pop-rock, Dross combines the emotional energy of grunge, the grooves of acid jazz, the lush eclecticism of 70's folk, and a distinct brand of passionate, intricate lyricism. The result is a sound that's difficult to categorize but easy to like, evoking equal parts Pete Yorn, Simon and Garfunkle, Brand New Heavies, and Ani Di Franco. This is music that rewards repeated listening.
Dross's debut album, The Age of Ignorance, focuses on artistic integrity rather than commercialism. Instead of front-loading the catchiest songs, the album is structured to be enjoyed as a whole. Instead of simplistic, cliché lyrics, it challenges the listener with intricate wordplay, anti-establishment ideology, and difficult truths. Instead of typical commercial loudness, it favors dynamic complexity and long-term listenability. Lyrically, the album has a cohesive central theme: question your assumptions.
Named for the high-school nickname of songwriter Mike Daross, Dross was originally formed solely as a studio project. Daross funded the recording of The Age of Ignorance by trading graphic design and Flash animation services for studio time. The album was released in October 2005 on Daross's own label, Crooked Grin Records, bringing together over twenty veteran Austin musicians. At the encouragement of a number of musicians involved in the project, Daross began booking shows in the Austin area and has been quickly building a dedicated following ever since.
The Age of Ignorance is available online at CDBaby.com and at numerous Austin record stores. Singles include Magnesium, Aggravated Misogyny, The Price of Life, and Lonely Planet.
reviews
Please log in to review this album.
Great, funny, different, with a touch of over-simplified condescension
author: clintThis is a tough review. A great album, with interesting music, complex, humorous lyrics, and a couple of songs that tell you just how much you (if you live in the USA) suck. Those of us who, even when we don't agree with the _current_ administration, don't think the US is a parasitic nation, may want to buy this excellent album but program the player to skip a couple of songs. Too good not to buy though! If you find yourself a parasite, I suggest you "laugh it off" a few times to work through it :)
Intelligent indie rock with a message
author: LisaDross is an intelligent blend of musicans with a message. It's always a pleasure to see indie bands make music with a message that gets played. It's on my top 5.
Definitely worth it!
author: Jeremy DarossObviously I am somewhat biased, being Mike's brother, but I was actually surprised at how much I like the album. There are several songs on there which are clearly radio-single quality, and I'm hoping to hear them on the air someday. Even the songs which I personally don't like (due to the fact that Mike is a lot more liberal than me!) are musically well structured and will appeal to a broad audience. Mike also does things with melody and harmony which are creative and unexpected, and that's nice to find in the world of 1-4-5 chord progressions.