Dustin Edge

Considering all the Denver musicians who have moved to New York lately, it's refreshing to see someone do the reverse. New Yorker Dustin Edge relocated to Boulder a few months ago, and the songwriter is already releasing a new EP. Unlike Edge's previous releases — the post-punk-leaning A Forest Through...

By Jason Heller

January 26, 2011

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Considering all the Denver musicians who have moved to New York lately, it's refreshing to see someone do the reverse. New Yorker Dustin Edge relocated to Boulder a few months ago, and the songwriter is already releasing a new EP. Unlike Edge's previous releases — the post-punk-leaning A Forest Through the Trees and By the Numbers — the five songs on Calm form a hearty stew of spooky balladry and woodsy rock only slightly diluted by overly smooth vocals (not to mention a really bad funky-hoedown rap in "Dig Down"). Granted, Edge's abrupt 180 from urban hipness to rustic warmth raises questions about his commitment to his new sound — and may even make listeners wonder if he switched to a rootsy style because he thought that we backcountry Coloradans only listen to music that twangs. No matter: It's mostly a pretty twang, regardless of where it comes from.

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.