Orphan

Album Review

While there is nothing entirely groundbreaking on Miami rock band Darwin's Waiting Room's release Orphan, there are several winning qualities that make the group commercially appealing. The first obvious asset is the winning coupling of lead singer Jabe's vocals and MC Grimm's flows, which range from straight rap to full-throttle scream rap. For instance, this successful vocal combination is quite evident on "Feel So Stupid (Table 9)," where Jabe's sustained vocal notes cushion Grimm's aggressive rapping. It works really well and similar bands cannot claim to be able to do the same thing. Another winning attribute is the catchy guitar playing, courtesy of Eddie the Kydd, who serves up some tasty playing. His catchy hooks and melodies, and overall heavy sound, have substance and appeal and really propel the songs. Choice cuts include the energetic "Live for the Moment," a song that could wake the dead; "Sometimes It Happens Like This," a creeping rapcore number driven by dark crunching guitars; and "Innosense," which spotlights Jabe in an understated, non-throaty delivery. A laid-back hip-hop flavor pulses on with reggae flows tossed in for good measure. Darwin's Waiting Room is dynamic as hell and knows how to work well what it's got.