Reviews of Sean Michael Dargan, "The Big Picture," Slightly Charred Records

PERFORMING SONGWRITER
DIY Top 12 Picks: September/October 2006 by Mare Wakefield

Sean Michael Dargan’s latest release starts with a sound clip of laughter, and it sets the mood for the entire record. The Big Picture is a collection of mainly upbeat, super-fun, feel-good pop-rock. The Madison, Wis.–based Dargan blends songs of summer camp and beach trips, Christmas and the morning sun, all with his crunchy, enthusiastic rock ’n’ roll tenor. Bass, drums and electric guitars chug gleefully along, occasionally embellished by piano, tenor sax and trumpet. Highlights include the rollicking “A Note From the Heartland,” the feedback-driven “Paint a Target” and the Tom Waits-inspired “Headed Back Out to Sea.” Even in his darker moments, Dargan is an artist who exudes the sheer joy of making music. If current trends have been sounding a little too glossy or jaded for your tastes recently, take a look at The Big Picture.

ROB THOMAS - WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL
Date published: 2/3/2005

Madison singer-songwriter Sean Michael Dargan certainly works with a large canvas on "The Big Picture." There are songs on this album that you could imagine a big name singer covering. And there are songs that you can only imagine the distinctive Dargan doing.

The opening track, "A Note From the Heartland," falls squarely into the latter category. It's the kind of upbeat pop-rock tune that Dargan's fans have come to know and love, with tight three-part harmonies and the kind of acute, slightly cryptic songwriting details ("I met you half asleep in spectacles/Waist deep in bicycles") that have to come from real life.

"Little As I'd Planned," on the other hand, seems like the kind of generic ballad that a songwriter hopes to get picked up by a name songwriter. Nothing wrong with that, and it's certainly a heartfelt and well-constructed song, but it lacks the personality of the other tunes on the CD.

Elsewhere, Dargan and his band nicely play with textures on "Paint a Target on My Heart," burying the vocals under wailing guitars and off-kilter rhythms. "Dallas Morning News" is a countrified two-minute instrumental that I'm assuming has nothing to do with the actual publication.

Overall, most of "The Big Picture" harkens back to the kind of smart-but-not-brainy pop-rock that Matthew Sweet, the Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket had such success with in the 1990s. The formula still works, mostly because Dargan is such an effortless and affable songwriter and performer that it doesn't seem like a formula.

Reviews from The LA Music Scene

Sean Michael Dargan, or "smd." as he is called for short, is a hard working pop/rock songwriter with many years of performing experience under his belt. He has spent most of his life traveling and playing music and has even opened for such renowned artists as Shawn Colvin, Matthew Sweet and Hootie and The Blowfish. Sean Michael has moved out from the east coast to explore the Los Angeles scene and prove the extent of his ambition.

The first thing I must mention about this CD is that the production value is absolutely amazing. The songs are well arranged and recorded and are full of colorful sounds. Sean's style fits well under the "Adult Alternative" category and his focus lies heavily in the art of writing catchy, well-structured pop songs. Many of the words and melodies throughout the CD are memorable, especially the track "Believe it or Not, I'm going With You." The entire CD is a good listening experience for all of you rock n' roll fans, but some of the stand out tracks, in my opinion are "Sarah with an H," "The Sky Won't Fall Down," and the second version of "Believe it or Not."  

"Sarah with an H" caught my attention with a funky drum rhythm that made it different stylistically from the previous 3 tracks. I found myself grooving along to the beat and imagined it might be a definite crowd pleaser for live performances. smd. is rumored to be making a video for this one sometime in the near future, which I think is an excellent choice.

The 5th track adds a big dynamic contrast from the other driving rock tunes and showcases Sean alone with his voice and guitar. The lyrics to this intimate piece are a reflection on the confusion surrounding 2 people in a relationship that seemed so right, but turned out to be wrong. The folk, finger style guitar intertwines with the melody and makes "The Sky Won't Fall" a pretty song and a definite highlight.  

While listening to the last track, "Believe it or Not," I was wondering why it sounded so familiar. At first I thought it was a cover, but then realized it was the same song as the first, but an acoustic, more emotional version. I have to say it is my favorite and it is the track with the strongest melody.

Sean Michael Dargan's self-titled CD is a polished, high quality representation of a seasoned Adult Alternative songwriter. His style fits well with the pop composers whom he sights as his main influences, such as Bob Mould, Elvis Costello, and Paul Westerberg. So, if you like strong rock n' roll pop music, support a Los Angeles unsigned artist by seeing smd. live and buy your own copy of his self-titled CD, "Sean Michael Dargan."

-- Elizabeth Hawley

I came a few minutes late and could hear the sounds of Sean Michael Dargan filtering outside. What a beautiful sound of folk music at some of its sweetest moments. Sean's acoustic guitar playing is a warm mix of finger picking and strumming that incorporates little tinges of blues. His songs are easy listening that you get lost in subtle messages told in a story telling fashion. Sean's voice is astounding for his style, a great range, from a warm mid tone to sweet highs. It's difficult to pin down one song to suggest listening to, but I'm particularly fond of "Sarah (w/ an h)" for it's lyrics; "as sure as you rise... I fall to pieces." Without making any comparisons, Sean Michael Dargan is one of the best, fullest sounding folk artist that I've heard in the LA area in some time.     

-- Seth Schwartz

Date published: 2/27/2003

For much of the '90s, Mary Washington College graduate Sean Michael Dargan was the hardest-working man in Fredericksburg show business, playing bagpipes at any event that would have him and booking his pop-rock band at every venue within 100 miles.

That hasn't changed in recent years as Dargan has bounced from New York to Dallas to Austin, Texas, to Los Angeles to Madison, Wis., constantly pushing his music career.

Dargan plays shows in Iota in Arlington on Friday night and at Orbit's in Fredericksburg on Saturday night at 10 p.m.

He's now living in Madison because that's home to his new bride, Jennifer. The two married in November,2001.

"She's really cool," Dargan said. "I'm really digging it. I had no idea married life would be so cool. She owns a house in Madison, which, come to think of it, means I own a house, too."

It's all part of the maturation process for Dargan, who's no longer the kid some local music fans may remember.

"I'm 34," he said with horror. "Oh, God help me, yes."

He said his songwriting has improved with age, but that he plays the same brand of guitar-driven pop-rock Fredericksburg audiences remember.

It's been three years since Dargan has played his hometown with a band.

Saturday night's Orbit's show will be sort of a reunion, with former cohorts Claude Arthur on bass, Peter Bonta on piano and Robbie McGruder on drums.