Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings have been playing in and around Athens for about four years now. So, you might be wondering why the hell you have never seen hide nor hair of them. Well, it seems as though the guys in the band have been spending a fair amount of time outside of Athens, doing what most bands spend a lifetime doing - cultivating their "sound." With the upcoming release of their latest album, Satisfactionista, the guys hope to cultivate an audience as well.

"We have evolved greatly onstage and off as we've become more comfortable with each other and the music. Anyone who saw us in the beginning would hardly recognize us now. It's kind of sad, too, because we play in Athens so rarely," says McKay. "We are building nicely in the cities we've been frequenting, and I'm thankful for this chance to start building it here at home."

In its inception, the band could've been called a strictly "power-pop" machine. And while that essence remains indelibly linked to its core sound, the band hopes to add to its "power-pop" veneer a layer of distinctly '70s classic rock; a sonic move the band feels was actually directed by its fans. "It took me a while to completely accept that what the Darlings excel at is… more or less what could be termed as "classic rock," recalls McKay. "That [style] also seems to be what people want from us. Since we do it well and it's more fun to perform than the more intricate music, anyway, I'm happy to deliver it." It's obvious this latest offering from The Critical Darlings is fostering a style that's uniquely their own, though many in the band have a different opinion of what the band's "true sound" is:

Joe Orr (guitar/vocals): "Post-retro-not-yetro classic rock of the present-tense future."

Joshua Harrison (drums): "The Darlings sound like sex with the Goddess of Rock and Roll herself."

Frank DeFreese (bass):"'70s Metro-sexual." 

And this varied reaction to their latest project manifested itself in several ways in the production of Satisfactionista. For one, the band teamed up with legendary Athens producer David Barbe, a longtime idol of McKay's. "[Barbe] was the only producer on my list. I can't tell you how proud I was when he got the Grammy nomination for his work on the Bettye LaVette album." But adding this superstar producer to Satisfactionista's credits wasn't enough to satisfy the band's eclectic approach to the new album. Adds McKay, "I didn't want to make a David Barbe record, and I didn't want to make a record that I didn't need him to do. I wanted to make a record that neither of us could do alone, and I know we did that." In addition, famed pianist for David Bowie, Mike Garson, lends his writing and musical talents on the last track "Something Unseen," a contribution McKay describes as "utterly unreal."

What's even more unreal than the band's new direction on this album is the way in which the songs were selected for the final cut. "It was all up to the fans," states Harrison, explaining that the band let loyal fans vote by email, narrowing down the 35 preferred tracks for the album. Says McKay, "The whole voting experience really helped open our eyes to what people liked and disliked and made us better producers, editors, writers, musicians and performers."

So, now with the album behind them and the anticipation of upcoming shows ahead of them, just what do the guys have on their minds for the future?

Orr: "To hit the Indian buffet as often as possible." 

Harrison: "I want the band to be part of something bigger than itself. I want someone to hear one of Joe's solos and feel inspired enough to go buy a guitar and start playing. I want someone to hear some of Chris' lyrics and it helps them through a tough time. Hell, I want someone to see Frank onstage and go buy some polyester pants. I want us to be something that makes people feel good to be alive."

DeFreese: "To be louder and more fashionable than Manowar." 

McKay: "My aspiration for the band is for it to be a musical home. I would love to be able to work with these three guys as long as possible… inspiring each other, sharing what we've learned and turning it into music that we couldn't have done on our own."

Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings celebrate their CD release at the Georgia Theatre Thursday Feb. 5, followed by David Bowie tribute band Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars (which also counts McKay as a member!).

Charley Lee

WHO	Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars, Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings
WHERE	Georgia Theatre
WHEN	Thursday, Feb. 5
HOW MUCH	$10