Album Review: Hard Act To Follow by Diana DeWitt
Alright, so I gave Diana DeWitt’s Hard Act To Follow a spin, and lemme tell ya—this album hits different. It’s got that mix of pop vibes with some theatrical flair (hence the “Stage & Screen” tag), which makes it feel like you’re watching a movie but also vibing to your playlist at the same time. Chord Records really knows how to back talent like this, huh?
First track up is the title song, "Hard Act To Follow." Man, this one sticks in your head like gum on a hot sidewalk. The melody has this soaring quality, almost like she's singing from the top of a mountain or something dramatic like that. Her voice just glides over the production, smooth as butter. And there’s this moment halfway through where the beat drops out for a second—it’s such a small thing, but dang, it gives me goosebumps every time. Like, whoa, okay, we’re doing that now? Love it.
Then there’s "Night Of The Comet-Various Segue Mix." This one feels kinda wild compared to the rest of the album. There’s this weird energy to it, like someone mashed up '80s sci-fi synths with Broadway drama. Honestly, it shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. The transitions between sections are super jarring, but in a good way—you never know what’s coming next. By the end, you're like, “Wait…did that actually happen?” But then you hit replay because yeah, it did happen, and it was awesome.
What gets me about these tracks—and the whole album, really—is how alive they feel. You can tell Diana isn’t just phoning it in; she’s putting her heart into this. Plus, it’s not all polished perfection, y’know? There’s grit here, personality leaking outta every note. Feels human.
So yeah, if you’re into music that takes risks without losing its charm, check out Hard Act To Follow. Oh, and fun fact: after listening to this album, I started wondering why more albums don’t sound like this. Like, why can’t pop music embrace the chaos a little more often? Food for thought.
