The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
16
new
SPILL FEATURE: BURN – A CONVERSATION WITH JULES MAXWELL OF DEAD CAN DANCE
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: PENTRAL – “AIMING FOR THE SUN”
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: BETTY MOON – “MY ONLY ONE”
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: TEDDY AT NIGHT – “LIVE AT THE HIBERNATOR”
SPILL NEWS: LIZ PHAIR ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF NEW ALBUM ‘SOBERISH’ HER FIRST RECORD IN ELEVEN YEARS TO BE RELEASED JUNE 4 VIA CHRYSALIS RECORDS
SPILL TRACK OF THE WEEK: MASSAGE – “HALF A FEELING”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: NEW SINGLE FROM MICK JAGGER “EAZY SLEAZY” FEATURING DAVE GROHL OUT NOW
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: FRIED MONK X BEAUTIFUL-FORTUNE – “PLANET B”
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE REDS, PINKS AND PURPLES – UNCOMMON WEATHER
SPILL FEATURE: SOMEBODY HAS TO BE ON MUSHROOMS, RIGHT? – A CONVERSATION WITH DIRTY HONEY’S JOHN NOTTO & JUSTIN SMOLIAN
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS – A VULGAR DISPLAY OF PANTERA (VIRTUAL EVENT)
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: OSHAWA MUSIC WEEK: THIS IS A ROCK SHOW – FEATURING REVIVE THE ROSE, THE JAILBIRDS, CIGAR CLUB, KILLER VIRGINS & MORE @ THE OSHAWA MUSIC HALL CONCERT THEATRE, OSHAWA
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ROBERT COTTER – MISSING YOU
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TWIN TRIBES – ALTARS
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: WE FOUND A LOVEBIRD – “BLOOD AND THE DIRT”
SPILL CANADIAN VIDEO PREMIERE: MARVA VON THEO – “DISSOLVE”
  • MORE
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Track Of The Week
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • TOTD
    • Track Of The Week
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
71
previous article
SPILL FESTIVAL REVIEW: NXNE 2019 - FESTIVAL VILLAGE
next article
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHAPELL - PENULTIMATE

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL DOFFING – RUNNING IN THE DARK

Paul Doffing

Paul Doffing
Running In The Dark
Independent

It is very easy for singer/songwriters to fall into the ‘my pains’ musical compartment. That is the one where the artist picks up his or her acoustic guitar, starts strumming it slowly, and starts singing about whatever romantic irk he or she had that morning, yesterday, or the day before. Suddenly that thin musical compartment literally turns into a glove compartment that you probably wouldn’t be able to fit just a pair of ladies’ gloves into.

On the other hand, to stretch out and widen your perspective, both musically and lyrically, you need a bit more talent, and to eventually move a bit out of your backyard. Based on Running in the Dark, American singer-songwriter Paul Doffing has the talent and has also gone a bit out of the ‘standard’ singer-songwriter domain. He has completed nearly 13,000 miles touring on a bicycle through the US and seven other countries, and spent two years in Central America and Europe.

This widened perspective shows on this album. Musically, it ranges from fast-paced opener “The Fragile Modern Day” and “Running In The Dark”, to countrified Neil Young-inspired “Renegade Heart” and “Another Winter Day”. But then it is the true singer-songwriter matter, where Doffing shows what he is really made of, the acoustic ballad, and “In Your Eyes” is a song that should end up on anybody’s late night playlist. Pick either the longer or the single version, or, preferably, both. A quiet surprise of an album.



Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL DOFFING – RUNNING IN THE DARK

Author

Ljubinko Zivkovic

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
—
8.0
Total Spill Rating
—
Total Fan Rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewalbum reviewsin your eyespaul doffingrunning in the dark
album review, album reviews, in your eyes, paul doffing, running in the dark
About the Author
Ljubinko Zivkovic
Ljubinko Zivkovic
Formerly a lot of things, including a journalist and a translator, currently a freelance writer living in The Netherlands.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewalbum reviews
 
7.0
The Reds, Pinks & Purples

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE REDS, PINKS AND PURPLES – UNCOMMON WEATHER

by Dan Kennard on April 9, 2021
The Reds, Pinks and Purples Uncommon Weather Slumberland Records For the third year in a row, The Reds, Pinks, and Purples have released another album of gentle, hazy, [...]
 
7.0
Robert Cotter
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ROBERT COTTER – MISSING YOU

by Gerrod Harris on April 9, 2021
Robert Cotter Missing You WeWantSounds Before Chic set the disco world on fire with the quintessential hit, “Le Freak” in 1978, they were The Big Apple Band, fronted by Robert Cotter. [...]
 
9.0
Twin Tribes
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TWIN TRIBES – ALTARS

by Jake Collier on April 9, 2021
Twin Tribes Altars Negative Gain/Young & Cold Records/Manic Depression Records Darkwave duo du jour, Twin Tribes, have released Altars, a remix album that encompasses their first two [...]
 
9.0
Dry Cleaning

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DRY CLEANING – NEW LONG LEG

by Dan Kennard on April 2, 2021
Dry Cleaning New Long Leg 4AD Story has it South London-based Dry Cleaning has its origin in a long-ago karaoke night and a small garage in which guitarist Tom Dowse, drummer Nick Buxton, [...]
 
6.0
Badfinger
8.7

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BADFINGER – NO MATTER WHAT – REVISITING THE HITS

by Aaron Badgley on March 26, 2021
Badfinger No Matter What – Revisiting The Hits Cleopatra Records I love Badfinger. I maintain that they are one of the most underrated bands of all time, and [...]
Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE REDS, PINKS AND PURPLES – UNCOMMON WE...
7.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ROBERT COTTER – MISSING YOU
7.0
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: TWIN TRIBES – ALTARS
9.0
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DRY CLEANING – NEW LONG LEG
9.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BADFINGER – NO MATTER WHAT – REVISI...
6.0
8.7
Latest Live Reviews
View All
 
Philip H. Anselmo

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS – A VULGAR DISPLAY OF PANTERA (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Gerrod Harris on April 9, 2021
55
 
This Is A Rock Show

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: OSHAWA MUSIC WEEK: THIS IS A ROCK SHOW – FEATURING REVIVE THE ROSE, THE JAILBIRDS, CIGAR CLUB, KILLER VIRGINS & MORE @ THE OSHAWA MUSIC HALL CONCERT THEATRE, OSHAWA

by Gerrod Harris on April 9, 2021
3145
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 3 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on March 18, 2021
13
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 2 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on February 18, 2021
247
 
Small Town Titans

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: SMALL TOWN TITANS @ SMT HQ, YORK (PA)

by Gerrod Harris on February 6, 2021
47
Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Week
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2020 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: NOFX – SINGLE ALBUM
2144
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JON BATISTE – WE ARE
951
 
SPILL CONTEST: MANNEQUIN VANITY RECORDS GIVEAWAY – ENTER TO WIN A GIANT MVR PRIZE PACK!
811
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: CHEVELLE – NIRATIAS
799
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY – MECHANICAL SOUL
714
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BLACK PISTOL FIRE – LOOK ALIVE
432
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STRAWBS – SETTLEMENT
407
 
SPILL NEW MUSIC: “SHAMELESS” STAR WILLIAM H. MACY RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE “WHISKEY DELL” UNDER “WILLIE CREEKS” MONIKER
358
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: SEEPEOPLES – “IT FEELS HEAVY”
347
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DANIEL LANOIS – HEAVY SUN
344
 
SPILL FEATURE: HIS STORY RIGHT NOW – A CONVERSATION WITH cEvin Key
317
 
SPILL FEATURE: TRULY ORCHESTRATING HIS OWN LIFE – A CONVERSATION WITH RICK SPRINGFIELD
299
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRIEVOUS ANGELS – SUMMER BEFORE THE STORM
290
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES