All posts by G. Gordon Gritty

CD Review, Entertainment, Femmes, Music

CD Review: I Will Be [2010]

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Band: Dum Dum Girls
Release: 3/2010
Label: Sub Pop

1. “It Only Takes One Night” – A+
2. “Bhang, Bhang, I’m A Burnout” – A
3. “Oh Mein Me” – A-
4. “Jail La La” – A
5. “Rest Of Our Lives” – A+
6. “Yours Alone” – A-
7. “Blank Girl” – A-
8. “I Will Be” – B+
9. “Lines Her Eyes” – A-
10. “Everybody’s Out” – A
11. “Baby Don’t Go” – B+

Comments: Dum Dum Girls! Yes! I like how last.fm puts it: “neither lo-fi nor too polished.” If you are looking for a quick hit, something to immediately latch you onto the group, I’d recommend “Jail La La,” the first single to go with this record. I’m already getting candidate for song of the year vibes. County jail sucks. “Someone tell my baby/Or else he won’t go out and save me” sings Dee Dee on the chorus. Literally, a great pop song that won’t get amazing treatment because it’s a bit lo-fi. Dum Dum Girls have been labeled a “buzz band” and I guess after opening for King Khan and BBQ Show and (soon to be) Girls, that’s kind of reasonable. For me, I knew the group had talent a long time ago; all of these songs solidify that. Definitely, definitely, definitely, DON’T just listen to this one and say to yourself this is pretty good and then never listen to it again. I usually do that with some decent records, but please something for me and get through this multiple times. The drums alone should have you hooked if nothing else.

Grade: A- (92)

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: Head First [2010]

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Band: Goldfrapp
Release: 3/2010
Label: Mute

1. “Rocket” – B-
2. “Believer” – C-
3. “Alive” – B-
4. “Dreaming” – C
5. “Head First” – C-
6. “Hunt” – D+
7. “Shiny and Warm” – B-
8. “I Wanna Life” – C+
9. “Voicething” – D

Comments: The synthesizer is a funny little instrument. It seems like it’s an easy way to make anything sound listenable. It’s funny to see how much “synthpop” is different, yet sort of similar to synthpunk . I guess the difference is that a majority of the songs from this band seem like creative variations of other songs. There are only so many progressions and approaches that a band can make in songs like these. That kind of bugs me, listening to this record as a whole. I guess if you like repetition and electronica, you’ll like this.

Grade: C (74)

EP Review, Music

EP Review: August in My Mind [2010]

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Band: The Fresh & Onlys
Label: Captured Tracks
Release: 3/2010

1. “Diamond in the Dark” – B
2. “Dreaming is Easy” – B+
3. “You’re Known To Wander” – A-
4. “August in My Mind” – A
5. “Garbage Collector” – B+
6. “Save Your Soul” – B+

Comments: Girls. Girls. A little Vivian, a little Dum, and a little plain old Girls. I like the psychedelic/surf sound of The Fresh & Onlys. Credit to them for staying fresh in a climate where music just ain’t as fresh as it used to be. They are too chill to be considered straight up garage or punk or what have you, but they draw from the lighter aspects of those genres. It’s cool.

Grade: B+ (88)