It Was Easy is probably the best title John Davis could have settled on for the debut recording from his newest project, Title Tracks. The album is a quick listen, full of breezy, light-hearted pop songs that recall the tempo, attitude and 1960s/70s influence of his most recent band, Georgie James. It also seems to describe the effortlessness with which these songs were written. Neither his skill in creating hooks nor his use of Ted Leo-esque guitar riffs (like the one that opens the album) come as much of a surprise to those who have been following his music for the past ten years.
The biggest problem with It Was Easy is that while it’s an album full of uptempo melodies, too many of the songs don’t command immediate attention. Songs like opener “Every Little Bit Hurts” and “Steady Love” are plenty hummable, but it’s only upon multiple listens that most of the other tracks, like “Piles of Paper” and “Hello There,” start to reveal their haunting key changes and beautifully crafted harmonies. Then there are songs like “At Fifteen” and the title track, which very nearly die on the vine. On the whole, It Was Easy needs several listens to appreciate fully, but even longtime fans of Davis could give up before they get there.
Still, those nuances are there if you take the time to look. The saxophone part in “No, Girl” and some infectious bass lines add depth to the guitar driven record. Davis also deviates from expectations with songs like his cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Tougher than the Rest,” which sounds almost alt-country. And anyone who has missed Davis’ drumming since 2005 will be glad to know that several impressive drum fills are tucked in here and there.
This album marks Davis establishing his point of view as a solo artist, and It Was Easy‘s hook-heavy fare (along with some creative swearing) indicates Davis may well have the chops to be the heir apparent to A.C. Newman (even as live Title Tracks shows in the past year have hinted at more of a Buzzcocks sound). But it’s the surprises on this album that show that we still haven’t learned all we have to know about the musical direction of John Davis.
