Darien Brockington has carved a secure niche in urban music
as an affiliate of the North Carolina super-group, The Justus League.
He has flaunted a stirring voice that enhanced both smooth and boisterous
tracks for several members of the JL extended family, earning
him a spot among R&B’s premiere upcoming talents. Somebody to Love, Brockington‘s
enchanting debut album, features the Carolina native stepping out of his role
as designated hook-man, finally showing the full picture of a talent that previously
appeared only in short glimpses.
D. Brock wisely pulls traits from previous generations and
transforms them into a style suitable for today’s iPod-wielding listeners.
Taking cues from his predecessors, he injects old-soul magic and places as much
emphasis on the emotion of each song as he does on its music and lyrics. “I Miss You”
practically drips the signs of desperation as the singer anxiously waits for a
reunion with a woman whose absence tortures him. Ambient sounds of thunder and
raindrop-like strings echo as Brockington expresses his
difficult struggle with loneliness. The anxiety reaches new heights on “Crazy,” where he
openly admits to having lost all control:
“Losin’ my mind, feels out of focus/
No tears left to cry, but still feeling hopeless/
Don’t want to give up on love/
But it seems that love gave up on me”
When he isn’t creating anthems for whipped men across the country,
Brockington guides Somebody to Love with a style that bears
slight traces of 90’s R&B and nods to 70’s soul. He doesn’t
showcase a high-powered voice, but he excels when delivering smooth, tender
vocals, and still manages to respectfully push the limits of his range. New
Jersey’s E. Jones supports those efforts by quietly putting in
his bid to become the next highly-sought-after producer. Jones
sets the tone for most of the album’s early half, including the aforementioned “I Miss You.” He also
provides an ideal sex soundtrack for “Come On Over,” giving the late-night
mating call a mixture of placid drums, soft snaps and cascading harps that
establishes the song’s sensual vibe. 9th Wonder, the J-League‘s
cornerstone of production, keeps pace with the lively, hand-clapping “Think It Over,” but
his string-laden beat for “All We Ever Need” is strangely uninspiring.
Somebody to Love thrives thanks to the talented producers who man
the boards, but it’s D. Brock and his expressive nature that
makes the album so charming. Co-writing many of the songs with Phonte
of Little Brother, he displays a gift for composing and
singing reminiscent of Marvin Gaye (check the title track for
proof), and he’s nothing short of perfect on “Can We Fall In Love Again.” Brock
dominates the latter’s piano melody as he sings, “They say leopards can’t
lose their spots and bees never lose their sting/But if people can’t change,
then what’s the point of you and me?” Thanks to that consistent
excellence, Somebody to Love is the type of record that should connect
with people lucky enough to be in love and those still searching for someone to
share the intimate or strenuous moments that inspired this album.