I Trust You To Kill Me - Rocco Deluca

I'll admit I had never heard of Rocco Deluca until I randomly bumped into him along with his good pal Kiefer Sutherland (ouch, there goes my toe with the namedropping!) in a pool hall in Maine a couple of years back. A very random and fun night it was too, and when I got home from America I immediately looked up Rocco and bought his CD. I wasn't sure what I'd think of it, and didn't know what to expect, but he is a really nice guy and I wanted to ...
...glad I did! Fortunately for me, Rocco's music is right up my street.

This CD, released on Kiefer's Ironworks record label, was released in 2006. It shares its title with a "rockumentary" which followed the band behind the scenes while touring across various countries under the watch of "tour manager" Kiefer, who lasted a whole 10 days and was glad to be back to acting!

Rocco started out solo, predominantly ... more

I'll admit I had never heard of Rocco Deluca until I randomly bumped into him along with his good pal Kiefer Sutherland (ouch, there goes my toe with the namedropping!) in a pool hall in Maine a couple of years back. A very random and fun night it was too, and when I got home from America I immediately looked up Rocco and bought his CD. I wasn't sure what I'd think of it, and didn't know what to expect, but he is a really nice guy and I wanted to give it a try.

Am I ever glad I did! Fortunately for me, Rocco's music is right up my street.

This CD, released on Kiefer's Ironworks record label, was released in 2006. It shares its title with a "rockumentary" which followed the band behind the scenes while touring across various countries under the watch of "tour manager" Kiefer, who lasted a whole 10 days and was glad to be back to acting!

Rocco started out solo, predominantly playing The Gypsy Lounge in California, but upon joining wtih Ironworks formed a band (The Burden) with Ryan Carman (drums), Dave Beste (bass), Greg Velasquez (percussion) and Brett Bixby (keyboard, rhythm guitar, sitar). Deluca himself takes on singing, songwriting and playing the slide guitar (Dobro), which he has played since age seven and definitely gives the album a edgy, different feel.

Tracks are as follows:

1. Gift - A slow start to the CD but with thoughtful lyrics. A nice easy listen but nothing special. 7/10
"Confused, the twilight sings
It looks like diamond rings
The jewels that this hour brings
Throw shadows in the park"

2. Dope - Starts with a nice beat, the Dobro really makes Rocco stand out. After an average start with track one, this will make you sit up and take notice. 8/10
"Show me your favorite image
Is it gonna burn my brain
Show it to me just the same".

3. Colorful - The only single to come out of the album, a cheery, upbeat anthem for the CD. A breath of fresh air. 9/10
"You swim like you're on fire
Live like your last day
Drink like it's water
There's no tommorrow"

4. Bus Ride - A slow-down again, not my favourite track to be honest. The lyrics are a little less inspired than his usual, but chilled and pleasant enough. 6/10
"Two knocks on your door
The doorknob turns
My stomach burns to say
Can i take you home...to my house"

5. Swing Low - Rockier, edgier, and what Rocco does best. Love it! A nice beat, really showcases Rocco's destinctive voice. 8/10
"Lay me down
Let me go
Feeling heavy
The ground is cold
Lay me down
Take it slow
I'm ready to stumble, sing & then swing low"

6. Speak to Me - Not a stand-out track, but not bad either. 7/10
"Campaign slogans election year
Fiction writer greatest fear
Private letters instruction books
Formulas ancient script"

7. How Fast - I'm very much undecided on this track. It starts well, love the intro, but for me it gets a little repetitive. Can't fault the music side of it though. 6/10
"Crawl into another cave
All the things you tried to save
On your arm it's engraved
That the world's come apart"

8. Gravitate - Faster, rockier, a lot different from the rest of the CD...but it works. 7/10
"I'm jealous of the world
The world is jealous of me
I see the way that it turns
Dumb and beautiful"

9. Mystified - Probably my favourite song on the CD. Mellow, soulful and easy to listen to. 9/10
"When my eyes hit the ground
That means i'm afraid to succeed
But it's a high to be down
Praying for this disease"

10. Draw - This is one of a couple of tracks which really reminds me of the Stereophonics. Which I think is why I like it, but it sounds a little old. 7/10
"It could be simple
My hand guide my pencil
My head is a mad child scribbling circles"

11. Soul - Unfortunately by the end of the weird intro, I was already annoyed at the song. Which is a shame because it then gets rocky and pretty good. One to stick out! 7/10
"I can't believe you're saying
That you've given to me all that you can
I can't believe you're thinking
At the top of your lungs this feels so bad"

12. Favor - Again with the stupid intros! Not really loving this song. 6/10
"Across your arm
A blue ink pen
Reminds you to think of others first
So write down things
That you can't say
And do me a favor once in a while"

Average rating: 7.25 (not including two bonus tracks which would have pulled it up a little).

I'd recommend this CD for anyone who likes alternative, or alt-country, or anyone who wants to give a great new artist a try. Rocco is a really nice guy and very thoughtful, his lyrics definitely reflect this. Rumour has it Rocco is soon to release a follow-up and I for one can't wait!

The enhanced version of this CD - which includes video footage and two bonus tracks, Dillon (written for his son) and Daybreaker, is currently on sale at Play.com for only £5.99, which it is well worth in my opinion! I also just spotted it on Amazon Marketplace for 89p! For that price you MUST buy it! 

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