Dermont Kennedy:

Without Fear

Review By Reese Gorman

Dermot Kennedy, who has the voice of an Irish god or at least what I would imagine an Irish god to sound like, released his debut album on Friday, October 4. Honestly, I have to say I was let down. I have nothing I hate about the album, overall, I like it. I just don’t LOVE it. I was expecting more, and I just didn’t get that.

I don’t know what it is, I like the album, I really do; his voice is fantastic, with every song his singing overpowers your entire being. Although this album did ruin my previous favorite Dermot song for me. Released as a single in 2015 ‘An Evening I Will Not Forget’ was given to the public as a beautiful acoustic masterpiece. But it was changed on this album; synths and autotuned were added and the whole instrumental base of this song overpowers his voice and completely butchers a beautiful song.

On a much more positive note, this album did present me with new options to replace ‘An Evening I Will Not Forget’ as my favorite Dermot song; and as of now, ‘Rome’ takes the cake.

‘Rome’ is a lyrical masterpiece about a potential heartbreak and the events and feelings that took place at this moment. Dermot seems to be reminiscing on the past when their love was pure and free. But, as every relationship has, it hit a low point and they almost lost it all. The opening lyrics to this song are probably forever trapped in my mind. 

“So, what’s the past for? I’ll need it if love don’t last long/ You can run around infinite in my head.”

Basically, in these two lines, he is saying, what was the point in all the good times they had if they are just going to give up over one fight? As well as he is going to need the past if he loses her because that will be the only connection he has with her.

Ultimately this album did give us good music but nothing great, nothing that I expected. I have been hyping up Dermot Kennedy since he released his ‘Moments Passed’ and had high expectations for this album, that were not ultimately met.