In February of 2018, singer-songwriter, Dan Croll left his home in Liverpool and moved to LA. shaking things up leading to the new album “Grand Plan” released August 21 on Communion Records. “Grand Plan” was written in LA then recorded in Richmond, VA and produced by Matthew E. White all over the last two years. Croll wrote these songs as he toils with the excitement and unsure times that come from picking up and moving to an entirely different country. I found just as much joy learning about the experiences as I did listening to the collection of 12 songs. They are something perfect for a chill Sunday morning when you just want to hear something that will soothe and entertain. This collection seems timeless and appealing to anyone not looking to get their face blown off at that moment.
“The past two years have been a rollercoaster, starting from scratch, alone in a different country, but I’m so happy to have come out the other end with this collection of songs. Feels great not only to be back on the music scene, but to be doing it with songs that I finally feel represent the influences and music I truly love.”
Dan Croll has a wonderfully unique approach with this collection of songs. I really enjoyed connecting the dots from his experiences to the songs telling a story that is full of so many vast feelings as he moved through his experience in this new situation. Oftentimes, I hear his melodic voice singing so sweetly and listening to the lyrics and learning what the song is actually about seem so far in contrast that I cannot help but to laugh! Croll will describe a truly horrifying situation as though he is singing a love song as you will see in ‘Coldblooded’, which is about the difficult times Croll faced when he was kicked out of an apartment, revealing the viciousness of some people. This contrast is also evident in ‘Actor With A Loaded Gun’ which is about struggling to find new friends in L.A.
We can hear the joy and appreciation of the experience in songs like, ‘Work’, which is about the excitement of a new relationship. ‘Work’ was written when Croll was missing his girlfriend when they had to part for her to go to work. This appreciation is also found in ‘Honeymoon’ which is a song about the early times in a relationship where we experience that ‘Honeymoon period’. ‘So Dark’ fits into this box too as it is about the dark humor Croll found in his new relationship in L.A., something he was missing in his life. This song is funny and cute! I imagine a crowd at a concert shouting and singing along.
There are also songs about the big decision to change countries and draw new experiences. This goes from ‘Rain’, singing about the contrast between the many days of rain in Liverpool and the sunshine in L.A. ‘Stay In L.A.’ is about the introduction to what the United States had to offer the young musician and the experiences behind the larger decision to make the move. ‘Yesterday’ also plays into this as it is not a cover of the famous Beatles song but it is inspired (I would imagine) since this song was written after a session with Sir Paul McCartney. Whereas many of us would, Croll was reliving the experience wondering what he could have done to make it better. .These decisions led to songs like the album’s title track ‘Grand Plan’ which is about struggling to find footing in an entirely new country with a different culture and ambition than what he was used to.
Each song on this album is unique in it’s own way and I implore you, the listener, to give the album your attention as I believe it is well worth your time. Each song stands on it’s own with unique beats, guitar solos but, most of all Dan Croll’s voice sings each song with his voice as though it were a ghost of past greats.
-Jessica Frey
Dan Croll – Grand Plan Song List:
Yesterday
Stay in L.A.
Rain
Actor With A Loaded Gun
Grand Plan
Work
So Dark
Honeymoon
Hit Your Limit
Cold-Blooded
Surreal
Together