Williams, Devon / Your Sympathy

Slumberland

Los Angeles-based Devon Williams is a gifted young songwriter and musician. He’s traveled from punk rock roots to a place where power pop meets classic ’60s melodies, the best of swirling ’80s-flavored production and shimmering, jangling guitars. His brilliant debut solo album Carefree, released in 2008, showcased timeless pop that’s equal parts Brill Building and Topanga Canyon, hearkening back to great songwriters like Nilsson, Chilton, Downes and Westerberg. Buoyed by Wall-of-Sound production, economical arrangements and a wealth of 12-string jangle, Carefree is a perfect pop record in the truest sense, bursting with melody that rewards repeated listens. Following up his superb Fall 2010 Slumberland single Sufferer, Williams offers another taste from his forthcoming album Euphoria. “Your Sympathy” is a simply beautiful piece of timeless pop, recalling legends like The Church, Felt and Teardrop Explodes while remaining pure Devon in the attention to arrangement and melody. The tune is another future-classic, instantly memorable and charming with its driving elegance. Slotting in with musical fellows like Destroyer (indeed, engineer Dave Carswell plays on and recorded the most recent Destroyer LP) and Puro Instinct, Williams effortlessly incorporates a wealth of disparate influences to create something totally personal and uniquely well-crafted. “Sisters” could be an A-side of its own on just about any single—a sweeping miniature epic full of fuzzed guitars and soaring, chorused jangle. Euphoria is scheduled for release early Fall 2011.

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