“I’m sure well accustomed to the typical PR hyperbole on a daily basis, and while I don’t want to say out of hand that DERAPS are “the next Van Halen,” there’s some truth to the matter. For one, selfsame band-leader Jacob Deraps was first revealed when he was 14 by his spot-on cover songs of Van Halen, Steve Vai (David Lee Roth), and other greats, and his YouTube channel built up to more than 27,000 subscribers. For another, DERAPS’ forthcoming self-titled debut album absolutely BURNS with the same fire that stoked that oh-so-classic first Van Halen album.”
When I get press releases like this, I’ll be honest: they ask for it. I just let most of these releases fly by most of the time. I am not in the least impressed by how many YouTube subscribers an artist has. Led by Josh Dearps on guitar and vocals, Deraps has a lot to live up to being somewhat called “the next Van Halen.” If you’re gonna walk that walk, you need to talk the talk. After all of these descriptive comparisons, one would think that Deraps would be a ridiculously uninventive and unimaginative band. In the past, when I have had pre-conceived notions like this, I found myself proven wrong and pleasantly surprised. Well, Deraps is NOT one of those moments.
Deraps’ self-titled debut is chockful of ridiculous, eye rolling moments. “Sex, Drugs & Rock N’ Roll” (a failed “Hot for Teacher” rip-off), “My Side of Town,” and the prolifically titled “Fuck Off” are just what you would think they are: stupid. Every cliché of the ’80s hair metal scene is crammed into every one of these songs by a kid who wasn’t even there. There is nothing more ridiculous to me than hearing songs like “Sex, Drugs, & Rock N’ Roll” by a kid who probably hasn’t done anything besides getting laid.
Deraps, in a nutshell, is a Great Value cover band that covers a band covering Van Halen. Deraps is to Van Halen what Greta Van Fleet is to Led Zeppelin. Unfortunately, Deraps is a watered-down, homogenized version of a great, timeless band while playing contrived, soulless, and ultimately forgettable songs.
Deraps is another “Rock N’ Roll is here to stay” story as they will single-handedly keep Rock N’ Roll alive. But, if anything, Deraps is a parody that makes Rock N’ Roll look the fool to those on the outside looking in. This is the kind of stuff that, in my opinion, kills Rock N’ Roll and makes it out to be a joke.
Deraps and their songs are not original, not timeless, and definitely not good. If all goes well, these guys will be forgotten about before the debut album is released, and Jacob Deraps will go back to making YouTube videos of himself playing Van Halen songs “to the note.” On the other hand, if the cream of the crop does rise to the top, Deraps is settled at the bottom of the glass and waiting to be tossed out.
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