Quaint Delusions - Killing What I Can’t Even See

​Quaint Delusions

Killing What I Can’t Even See
self-released; 2024

​By ​Dino DiMuro

Quaint Delusions is an alternative rock band from the outskirts of Tampa, Florida. They are no strangers to this site, and I was already familiar with their 2023 album This Far Out and a couple of singles. The band’s newest release is a track called "Killing What I Can’t Even See," which is described as “as close as we can get to a folk song.”

Founded by vocalist, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist Michael Starks, this diverse crew includes Roger Hughes (guitar/vocals), Steve Dicks (bass), David Lane (lap steel/vocals), and Kevin DeHart (drums), along with guests Brian Sutherland (cello) and Roberta Stacks (vocals). What initially struck me about these guys (and still does) is how youthful they sound on record, despite the fact that they are not of college age anymore (unless you count night classes!).

Though primarily known for alternative rock, the band enjoys experimenting with different styles. Influences include The Beatles, Guided By Voices, Crack The Sky, glam, and punk. The Beatles influence is quite obvious here, but I love the shout-out to Crack The Sky, one of the greatest prog rock bands that never actually made it big. This new single was recorded in three Florida studios: the Dade City Barn, Two Beagles Studio, and Morrisound Recording (where the album was mixed by Jim Morris). The band says the song grapples with the fact that “giving a shit about things you can't really control can be draining.”

First of all, kudos to an amazing cover image by David Monroe Photography. Rarely is a photo or collage so evocative of a song’s title! Musically, this track starts with and is heavily anchored by the cello overdubs by Brian Sutherland. Joined by David Lane’s lap steel, it initially sounds like a morose arrangement for a rock quintet, featuring clever and intriguing guitar filigrees. As the song kicks in, it can’t help but recall the psychedelic Beatles track “I Am The Walrus,” which also featured strings, especially cello. The song appears to be in a minor key, but the band uses some chords I can’t easily identify, so who knows!

In an earlier review, I noted that Quaint Delusions sound like college boys, though their photos clearly show “men of a certain age.” This dichotomy appears again as the vocals sound young, vibrant, and full of attitude. Musically, the track pretty much sticks to the verses, building overdubs and power as it progresses. What serves as the “chorus” is essentially a variation on the verses, adding to the overall stony feel of the track. Lyrically, my best guess is that writer Starks is gathering up as much disparate imagery as possible to describe a life that barely makes sense in the best of times. Lyrics like “Slipping out of darkness, Smoothing out the sharpness / Killing what I can't even see” are a bit inscrutable but fit the music and the hypnotic beat perfectly.

Another amazing track from a band that has amazed me quite a bit in the past. The time to discover them was yesterday!

quaintdelusions.com

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