Colton Davies – The Purks of Being a Riggs (Album Review)

Colton Davies brings heartfelt folk-pop vibes on his debut album “The Purks Of Being A Riggs.”

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TOP 5

5. Call a Doctor

While sad, “Call a Doctor” is a fun listen on The Purks of Being a Riggs. Most of the album is pretty laid-back musically, but this song starts with a uniquely staccato instrumental. It has some of the most interesting instrumentation on the album, with strong drums and moving strings over a strong beat. The build from the verses to the chorus is very well done, and keeps you excited to hear what’s coming next.

4. Patience

“Patience” is a heartbreaking track about realizing the one you love isn’t right for you. It genuinely made me sad while I was listening, and I almost accidentally ranked it lower for that reason. The exhaustion on the track is palpable, and Davies laments how much effort he has put into this relationship that was not going to work. Some of the best lyrics on the album can be found here.

Colton’s maturity stands out in a breakup song like this. He doesn’t remove the possibility of them getting together “when [they] grow up,” but wishes his ex-lover well regardless.

3. Skyline Drive

“Skyline Drive” is a nostalgic track about missing his home state of Virginia. This also has very strong instrumentals. The upbeat vibe attached to the chorus adds a lot of energy to a melancholy track, where he says that he “ran away” from home, but misses it, even as he lies to himself about it.

He also talks about his struggles with alcohol here. He drinks because “the answer” may be at the bottom of the bottle, but it only brings emptiness. His hometown is what would make him feel peace, and he misses it. It reminds me of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” a song that I absolutely love.

2. Honey

“Honey” was an immediate favorite. It is a cheerful, hopeful, upbeat love song that reminds me of some of my favorite songs by Stephen Sanchez, The Lumineers, and Bastille. There is no conflict in this song, just pure love set to an infectiously catchy beat and melody. It makes me smile when I listen to it, and I can’t help but hope that it’s not about the same person as “Patience.”

1. Woman

“Woman” is my favorite song on The Purks of Being a Riggs without question. It was my favorite both sonically and lyrically. It details the emotional effects of being raised by a single mother, which he describes as being “written by a woman.” However, he also questions how much of who he is comes from the absence of a father.

He’s grateful for the emotional depth granted by his mother, but says that the absence of his father made him either “harder” or “softer,” wrestling with which of the two it is. It is a lovely expression of his gratitude for his mother and the pain of not having his father to raise him as well. The instrumentals, melody, and harmonies are stunning.

SONG-BY-SONG RATINGS

Dreams (4/5)

Stained T-Shirts (4/5)

Honey (5/5)

Cigarettes and Chocolate (3/5)

Patience (5/5)

Call a Doctor (4.5/5)

Woman (5/5)

Darlin (4/5)

The Purks of Being a Riggs (4/5)

Skyline Drive (5/5)

Small Girl Big City (3.5/5)

RGM RATING

(B)

Colton Davies’s debut album The Purks of Being a Riggs is an exciting first body of work for the folk-pop singer. He clearly has an ear for good melodies, and there are beautiful examples of lyricism. He mentions writing poetry on one of the tracks, and I can definitely hear it, especially in songs like “Patience” and “Woman.” I’m looking forward to where Davies goes next.