"A record that so beautifully unleashes the essence of pop, this is the promise of the debut solo album from David Singer. The Cost of Living begins with the dreamy piano rock tale of the surreal experience of wrapping your car around a tree in the middle of the night on an empty highway. The Accidents' brilliant, melodic songwriting, reminiscent of Stephen Merritt of the Magnetic Fields, is perfectly complemented with David Singer's sleepy falsetto and in-awe lyrics: 'I pulled myself out through the windshield and saw that/the night was as wide as the sea/I brushed all the flecks of glass out of my hair and/I counted the stars I could see.' The effect nearly turns your heart inside out and rockets you through the cosmos of an unspoken flood of emotion. The title track shows off Singer's pop prowess and knack for Beatles-esque horns, 'Base of My Skull' would fit nicely alongside Bob Mould's sugary, heartfelt rock confessionals and 'Will' reaches Elliot Smith's range of late Beatles love." - All Music Guide

"The Cost Of Living is a remarkably good album. It's lush, warm sophisticated orchestrated pop...exceptional songs, crafted so well. Perhaps like The Beatles via Pavement or very tender Deus, David Singer shows intellectual restraint and sweeping understatement, introspective fragility and existential longing. A fine, fine album from a singer on the level of Elliot Smith, Steven Malkamus and Beck. Beautiful." - Organart

"David Singer writes songs that conjure up that eerie edge between nightmares and sweet dreams. It's a funky melange of pop, electro-hip hop with a rock sensibility, and a small dollop of shoegazing for those of us who aren't quite over that. Singer's voice is quite diversified, conveying everything from simpering doubt to ironic retrospection." - MetroMix

"The Cost Of Living serves as a perfect spotlight for David Singer's particular and impressively developed songwriting talent. Freed of the inevitable compromises one makes in the context of a band, Singer's classic pop sensibility flourishes, proving him to be as skilled with a Beatlesque hook as he is with more textured, songwriterly twists of melody and phrase. His strongest suit, in fact, may be his lyrics. Singer is undoubtedly a young songwriter to watch." - CMJ

"With The Cost Of Living, Chicago's David Singer is likely to emerge as one of the best singer / songwriters in modern music. His acoustic-based songs are thoughtful and complex and The Cost of Living is definitely not lacking in variety. Almost every track is consistent with Singer's gentle vocals and added rhythm section made from tape loop experimentation. It's quite simply a brilliant record that fans of Elliot Smith, Ben Folds or even Dashboard Confessional will come to love. The Cost of Living contains all the quality you can expect from a Deep Elm Records release: inspired lyrics, brilliant songwriting and premium quality recording." - Punk International

"David Singer may be regarded as one of the most talented solo artists today. While difficult to describe Singer's music on The Cost Of Living, I'd place him in a cross between Elliot Smith, The Beatles and a bit of Pavement...a very interesting mix indeed. David Singer's music is a beautiful landscape that is truly a wonder to explore. Using experimentations and sweeping ballads with a pop feel, all instruments are pushed to the fullest potential. The amazing thing is that Singer wrote, arranged and played virtually every instrument on the album. I have a deep respect for anyone who has the drive to craft songs like that. Still, the album's strongest point is the lyrics. They read like a dream...a poem really. Like sad stories, I can easily imagine them in my mind. A refreshing change in pace to my usual listing habits." - United Front

"Records like The Cost Of Living from David Singer make sifting through the heaps of bad metalcore and pop-punk cds we get for review well worth it. Singer has crafted a lovely album of quiet, wonderfully morose, piano driven ballads and medium paced rockers that are soothing, dreamy and contemplative. There are several excellent threads running through this album - a Dylan / Springsteen inspired storytelling, the playfulness of Badly Drawn Boy and the exposed nerves of Elliot Smith or Nick Drake. David Singer's intentions are clear and well articulated here. What a lovely album...thank you Deep Elm!" - Superhero

"The Cost Of Living is a strong debut for David Singer, translating the pop sensibilities of The Beatles in a way not unlike Elliot Smith. There is a lot more studio experimentation, which gives the record its uniqueness. In a way, The Cost Of Living is much more thought out and more complete as a cohesive album, in its diversity and reach, making the comparisons to Smith unfair. The songs are detailed and extremely well crafted and Singer stands as a strong contender as one of the year's most promising songwriters." - Slave

"David Singer is certainly one of those people who doesn't fit into the categories with which we're familiar. He is one of those intriguing lights, shining out from behind the commercialism that constantly screams for our attention. His songwriting talent is obvious and impressive...the mood set by a contemplative piano, embellished by acoustic and edged with electric guitars, all brought together by the clean, subtle melodies. Hawaii is the most personal - the standout track - and while the others are more protective of the writer, they are still full of pleasing lyrical turns and accurate observations about the dynamics of everyday life." - Stinkweeds

"The Cost Of Living is probably the most musically diverse of the Deep Elm releases to date, and David Singer creates some fantastic melancholic songs that are both touching and tender. With sweet sounds built on the bones of rock songs and dressed with smooth layers of melody, Singer uses a wide array of instrumentation while sticking with soothingly simple and effective songwriting. Whether it's a piano ballad like the title track or the loops and samples of I Need to Be Able To See You, this records all sounds like highly accomplished stuff that defies most categories. Nice, nice stuff." - Fracture

"David Singer's new record, The Cost of Living, is laden with imagery and sharply written, pretty words. Singer's sound is introspective, mildly milky and he understanding how to assemble a good pop song. The title cut nods along following a pleasant piano-fronted melody. That's Not Me, as well as I Need to Be Able to See You, add just enough tape loops to the mildly melancholic mix without the tunes being marred by turning them into a sampled scratch fest. The Cost of Living is a solid and breezy, well-orchestrated release. Think Elliot Smith taking karate lessons from Ben Folds." - New Haven Advocate

"The solo debut by David Singer has a nice psych-tinged singer-songwriter bent. Channeling the Beatles via Elliott Smith and Richard Davies, songs like the piano-driven title track reveal a sharp, sophisticated pop sensibility. Scattered samples and even some turntable scratching are put to good use. The material connects." - Chicago Reader

"David Singer has crafted a very cool, very smart album with The Cost Of Living. Opening up with The Accident - a bit of Ben Folds Five thrown into outer space with samplers and such - the piano line is very hypnotic and adds to the swirling space bleeps. On the title track, and in my opinion the best track on the album, the swaggering rhythm is very neat and again, the piano is just as intriguing as the instrumentation. The deeper you get on The Cost Of Living, the more sides of David you see. He proves himself a worthy contender for the indie singer / songwriter award. This album is one you should most definitely seek out if you enjoy introspective songwriting with super smart pop hooks. Singer is a man who is not afraid to take some chances on some unique arrangements, and it works completely to his advantage." - Music Emissions

"David Singer is all about pop sensibilities and I've fallen for his recent release, The Cost Of Living, hook, line and sinker. On a recent vacation this record, by and large, received the longest rotation. Singer exceeds where others fail both in songwriting (the title track is excellent) and in musicianship. His songs are littered with samples and loops which add to the music rather than detract from it, which is refreshing. Extremely well put together and worthy of your attention, I predict you'll hear more and more about David Singer in coming months." - Yahtzeen

"Definitely one of the nicest surprises of the year...David Singer has magically created a debut in The Cost Of Living that is nothing short of outstanding! His acoustic and loopy approach is tentatively more rich in sound than other artists like Elliot Smith. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, David is not afraid to showcase his talent and his personal take on life. His lyrics are easy to relate, describing day to day episodes or human moods we all feel.This record is captivating as it is brilliant. Gentle little moments are found everywhere in these ten songs. Highly recommended." - Dogprint

"On his first solo effort, The Cost Of Living, David Singer shows a knack for astoundingly catchy, mesmerizingly pretty pop tunes. The lyrics are more descriptive than one usually finds these days, adding a cohesive skin to each song's body of emotions. And as for the piano on the title track...magnificent! Other songs of equal caliber include The Accident, That's Not Me and The Base Of My Skull, all of which make The Cost of Living a worthy purchase." - Splendid

"Gorgeous songs, the kind of stuff that can melt snow when it's below zero outside. David Singer is not only adept at finding the absolute prettiest way of kicking out a melody, but he knows how to fill in the rest of the parts as well. There's a fine balance on The Cost Of Living between simple execution and complexity overload. This disc walks the line. Just when Singer might be leading into overkill territory, he pulls back. I'm impressed with the cleanness of the sound. Even when it gets dirty, the parts never obscure the whole. I think this is glorious. The songs soar, swoop and glide in for a gentle landing. Anyone who's not afraid to make a tough melody pretty is a winner in my book. David Singer not only writes a good game, he puts his thought down on tape as well as anyone. This one will make you laugh, scream and cry. It's impossible to listen to this album impassively." - Aiding And Abetting

"Anyone who likes a playful, textured brand of indie rock would find a lot to like in David Singer. To begin, the lyrical content on The Cost Of Living isn't run of the mill. Rather than simply putting love poetry to music, Singer writes candidly about widely varying topics such as car crashes and the presence of God in our everyday lives. No matter what the subject though, the words are delivered in a manner that is neither too obvious nor deliberately obscure, and (like any good pop song should) serve as a jumping-off point for the listener's mind. Still, it's Singer's willingness to experiment that takes The Cost Of Living from being a solid indie record to being one that really should be sought out. The varied atmosphere and texture of this release make it a real delight to listen to, and a worthy piece of any indie rock collection." - Deep Fry Bonanza

"David Singer is a unique and talented songwriter with something intriguing to offer. On The Cost Of Living his mixture of styles creates something that feels fresh. Singer proves he has the ability to write catchy and pretty pop songs while mixing in electronic beats, samples, loops and bits of indie rock, resulting in something quite different but equally endearing. His songs are well formed and well written, sung with a kind of sincerity you'd expect from balladeers such as Elliott Smith. This is an excellent debut." - Delusions Of Adequacy

"The soulful, beautiful ballads that comprise The Cost Of Living, carried by David Singer's incredible voice, will melt the ice walls that you've built around your heart and let a little warmth creep in. Try as I might, I can't deny that this is one great record, and when I play it, it's all I'll play." - Mass Movement

"The Cost of Living goes deeply. The prickle, the sting, the full of feeling of David Singer bores inexorably deep into the heart and spreads a pop mood. The melancholic undertone of his compositions reminds me of Travis or Elliott Smith, but instead of drowning in its own sentimentality, the melodies are like sad-light swims on the sea from tears and thoughts. A magnificent underground album." - Real Music

"Unpretentious music from an unpretentious man. David Singer plays and sings virtually every track on The Cost Of Living, but what we find most interesting is that this doesn't sound anything like solo projects usually do. Mr. Singer leaves tons of wide open space in his tunes. His songs are very honest. David's voice ranges from extremely soft and plaintive to somewhat of an aching yelp. Overall, this album is so subtle and understated that we find both arresting and bewitching. We can't really come up with any comparisons for this one. Our top faves here are The Accident, I Need To Be Able To See You and Madonna Complex. Very different, yet very pleasing." - Babysue

"David Singer is the best musician in Chicago. His trance-inducing, laid back rock provides can easily provide the soundtrack to any week night at the local grille. Lyrically, David flows from the confusion of a car accident to the story telling of a girl who shuns marriage through one night stands to pessimistic existentialism. What you need to know is that the fragile honesty of David's songwriting is a treat. He is not overpowering or overwhelming but manages to pull off a solid sound that lacks nothing. I will be listening to this through many late nights." - Message From the Homeland

"Thank you Deep Elm Records. Chicago's premier songwriter, David Singer, has finally been heard. Released by one of the finest independent labels around, The Cost Of Living is required listening material for fans of lyrics, melody and just damn good music. It might be a little difficult to categorize David Singer's debut. It falls somewhere between indie pop and indie rock. The music's make-up includes experimental elements, loops, an assortment of instruments (guitars, piano, trombone), and straight forward sincerity. The fact that David Singer wrote, arranged and played all the instruments on "The Cost Of Living" further impresses me. What really set this record apart for me, however, were the lyrics. They're poetic and read like stories, where the characters seem so real the listener is drawn into their world. 'The Cost Of Living,' 'Base Of My Skull' and 'That's Not Me' not only stood out as my favorites on the album, but also as three of the best songs I've heard this year." - PunkRockReviews

"David Singer's debut on Deep Elm is hopefully not his last. Think slow melodies and ballads written to lovers. It's very impressive to me when any solo artist puts out an album, so I do give him lots of credit. I noted the variance he shows in each song as the album progresses. With each track, the image I have of Singer evolves into something completely different. If you enjoy slower and more laid back music that includes a variance of harmonies and instruments, check this out. A definite must for someone that appreciates music for what it was in the past with the Beatles, up to the present." - Punkbands

"David Singer is the brightest shining star in Chicago's indie-sky. With piano, tape loops and beats and a distinctive feel for Beatlesque melodies, Singer lulls everything to sleep that has two ears. Singer's introspective poetry makes his new album The Cost Of Living one of the most intense pieces this year. Always they struggle, the singer / songwriters. One time for, one time against, the world. " - Toaster

"The Cost Of Living is a canvas of well structured songs. David Singer is easy to listen to with smooth vocals. Sometimes quirky, sometimes smooth, Bright Eyes and The Beatles are rough comparison points. This record is about melody and storytelling and the eerie lyrics shine. I'd say this was time well spent. A good listen. I want to hear more." - Media Reader

"David Singer sounds strikingly like Elliot Smith, the Beatles and Ben Folds Five, though lots of interesting choices for orchestration set him apart. Singer throws in tape loops and scratches amongst the typical drums, acoustic guitar and the like. The hip-hop inspired 'I Need to be Able to See You' and 'I Don't Mind' are cool. Lyrically, he has sparked an endearing, poetic foray." - Action Attack Helicopter