Thomas D'Arcy

This is a record born of failure and frustration. Following a sublime debut as Small Sins, Thomas D'Arcy and the band scored an enviable record deal with Astralwerks, only to find their rockier next offering met with relative indifference. A self-released follow-up met a similar fate. Given the situation, it's no surprise that D'Arcy ditched the Small Sins moniker — he was the only constant member — in favour of his name. He sticks with the sonic formula for his solo debut proper and manages to not let any lingering bitterness filter through. The album is rife with a cynical worldview though — "That's the Price You Gotta Pay" is utterly devoid of the youthful optimism that once pervaded the Toronto musician's music, while standout "Credit!" takes steady aim at self-entitlement, with lines like, "They were lying when they told you/told you, you can be anything you want." Taken as a whole, What We Want takes too long to get going — the first three tracks feel like a slog before the aforementioned "Credit!" But it's to D'arcy's, um, credit that these observations never veer into the realm of self-indulgence, while his knack for writing beautifully rendered earworms will certainly keep the converted listening.