Truth be told, I can’t stop listening to “I Can’t Stop” off of Nashville (by way of New York) songwriter Anthony Da Costa‘s latest record, Da Costa. There is a brilliant blending of pop sonic qualities with an intense edge and longing in the singer-songwriter’s voice. That voice, man its just so damn good.
We first came across Da Costa by way of his work in Aoife O’ Donovan’s touring band. The rich layering of sublime harmonies and the textures he added via his guitar playing were mind boggling and beautiful. I knew that I needed more of this fellas playing and low and behold, a new record hits us this month.
With a rock n’ roll edge, compressed but still with an undeniable potency and force, “I Can’t Stop” takes what makes pop rock so damn catchy and listenable and amplifies it even further. The tone and quality of his vocal is unrivaled by anyone. There is a heaping dose of Whiskeytown mixed in the sound for good measure, with hints here and there of Deer Tick’s John McCauley’s vocal, if you sanded and smooth the frayed edges of his crackle and broken timbre. Mellowed and polished but with just enough cracks in its exterior to let the emotion seep out and into each and every line. Da Costa has a voice that makes you feel the feelings. That is something I strive to seek out in a singer. Someone who can portray a feeling just by the way they choose to annunciate or stress certain phrases and syllables and who’s tone and timbre digs itself deep into your heart. He has got that.
The full record is up and streaming on Bandcamp…buy it. The entire thing is one great song after another. Rootsy goodness mixed and mingled with qualities that will make you want to listen over and over again.