Music Review // Doug Robb "Shine"

 

With steady acoustics, the song "Shine" begins in a singular way but grows to become something that is so much more.  It reminds me of the way in which you can watch the sunrise and the amount of light coming up just grows from this small amount you can pinch between your two fingers, but ultimately it just takes over the entire sky.  I really appreciate when songs have this acoustic sound, but it's so much more when they also seem to have this build that Doug Robb is doing here.

As the verse gets closer to the chorus but the chorus hasn't quite kicked in yet, there are some oooh's which really set the tone as well.  While this feels uplifting, it can also feel inspirational to the point where it can almost become spiritual.  Musically I am reminded of some of the ballads of bands like Plain White T's, but there isn't a lot of other music to compare this with as Doug Robb brings this style all his own as well as his voice.  The longer this song goes on, as it kicks in during the chorus, you can really hear Doug Robb just belt this one out.

During the verses of this song, the lyrics have lines like "Don't wanna feel the pain" and they discuss how people can be afraid to take chances because of the risk.  There is a lot that can be said out there about not only trying but also just how it is better to fail at something you love than fail at something you feel like you're being forced to do, so with that I think you can just listen to this song and hear lines like "It's my voice and it's my time to" and know exactly what you must do.

One of the biggest things I like about this song is that it's not so much about having a plan to shine, it feels like it's more about getting that nudge you might need in that right direction in order to do just that.  Sometimes there is that anxiety, that fear of failure, that keeps us from doing something and listening to this song isn't going to put you on the path but it will help you get going once you're on there.  Sometimes, that is when we need the help the most.