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Dirty Linen
May 1996
What does one do after a decade plus as a professional blackjack player, barred from casinos from Las Vegas to Poland on account of one’s card counting skills (even when using aliases such as Richard Thompson)? Inspired in part by the Great Peace March for Global Nuclear Disarmament, whose Collective Vision band he was part of, Darryl Purpose turned the clock back and became a singer/songwriter, southern Californian style. With arrangements reminiscent of vintage Jackson Brown and Iain Matthews, topped by a voice which unmistakably hints at James Taylor, “Right Side of Zero” is a breath of fresh air in an overcrowded market and very promising for a debut effort.
At times visionary, at times tender, Purpose pulls no punches in “Don’t Tear Down” in which he names 1991 for what it was: “That’s the year American morality hit bottom. They’re dancing in the street with blood on their breath, praying to the war god and celebrating death.” Wailing harmonic a and carefully placed lap steel underscore the points he makes, but nothing is overdone.
“It’s been a while since the cards smiled now, one fine day, I’ll be heading down the road on the right side of zero,” sings the unrepentant gambler. With this album he just may be on his way. |
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