P is For Panda_
Artist: Damion Suomi [pronounced "sue me"]
URLs: http://www.myspace.com/damionsuomi, http://www.pisforpanda.com
Times: 10 tracks/49.19 mins.

I stumbled across this guy because of what _P for Panda_ is doing (speak more of this later). A singer/songwriter from Cocoa Beach, Florida, Damion Suomi has played music since the late '90s with local bands and performed shows all over the United States.

At some point Damion began writing songs that were rooted in Irish culture. His music has been described as drunk, confused and honest. He sounds like REM's Michael Stripe, with an Irish bent to his musical style (think Waterboys). He also reminds me a little of The Lost Dogs. Suomi leans heavily on the alt-country/Americana side but manages to create his own sound. Unlike Mike Scott (Waterboys) and The Lost Dogs, Damion unfortunately resorts to expletives to emphasis his message. This shortfall is the only one on this disc.

This subjective opinion is purely mine, but except for the very rare occasion, if you need to resort to a base form of lyricism, then you are not linguistically savvy enough to get across the weight of your intended message.

But that's me.

Put that issue aside, I love this disc. Damion has been criticized for the similarity in his lyrics, and that "the relentless despair and nihilism gets old quickly" (<http://www.punknews.org/>www.punknews.org). This idea may be true if you live in that endless void. However, if that is all you hear then you might be missing the influence of the Irish and their sense of humor in Damion's style.

The Irish folk tradition is abundant as the wry despair, drinking songs, sung with "a smile," is so evident on this disc. For example:

But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying
If I be dead, as dead I well may be.
Then come and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
"Danny Boy"

"All For Me Grog": "I'm sick in the head And I haven't been to bed / Since I first came ashore for me slumber / For I spent all me dough / On the lassies don't you know / Far across the Western Ocean I must wander."

Kinda down, but these songs are the great-singing ones Damion pens. The Panda website says that the songs he sings are "a mix of hope and despair." He says that, "These songs were birthed from pubs, drinks, and relationships."

Just on _P for Panda_: this project started life as a t-shirt design business by the son of a missionary, Chad Pearson, a noted humanitarian who also founded and operated The Militia Group ("As I Lay Dying") for twelve years.

Panda's music is now an imprint of Hopeless/Sub City Records. Chad's passion for music is noted by many on the industry. Manchester Orchestra's Jeremiah Edmond, commenting on his passion, said, "Chad is one of those few people who gets the music industry--artists--and really believes in the music he stands behind."

With the motto, Music+Art+Charity, Panda strive to promote artists, bands, writers, film-makers, etc; and at the same time give back to the community.
They do this two ways.
1. Donate at least 10% of any profit made on the label side to charity.
2. The clothing/t-shirt side split the profit three ways.
a. A third to Panda,
b. A third to the artist, and
c. A third to a charity that the artist chooses.

So it seems that both Damion and Chad are possibly seeking some sort of spiritual enlightenment and filling that thirst with worthy passions. I know I struggle sometimes with enlightenment and passion as a Christian; what is and is not God? How does He work in my life? How can I be most useful to people and God?

And strangely enough, I get that same feeling of what am I really doing for Him, and the same doubts and questioning when I listen to Damion's.

With lyrics asking me questions like: If I have been saved from sin shouldn't I be looking out for the needs of others not my own? Am I?

"Darwin, Jesus, The Devil, & Me": "Go on and take more than you need / all your sins have been washed clean / You're only Human / You're only human, boy."

You know, I could be completely wrong, and this is just a guy who sings desperate songs about drinking himself to death, bad love and losing everything in life of value.

One reviewer rightly said, "'Nobody's gonna save your ass except for you,' Suomi sings near the end of the album. Wrong, Guinness breath." (<http://www.punknews.org/>www.punknews.org).

Listen, I know that his disc will not be everybody's cup of tea, and is definitely not coming from a Christian world-view. But I do like this one. It has good production, and I can't help but sing along with Damion, while at the same time feeling he is paying out on me.

This disc is only available as download from the Panda site, http://pisforpanda.com/, and iTunes.

Robert Boynton February 1, 2009