Tag: Dot Dash

Dot Dash and The Nervous Eaters

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Dot Dash

Dot Dash “Madman in the Rain”

This may be Dot Dash’s seventh album, but Madman in the Rain almost feels like a debut. Remember the thrill of late 80’s alternative rock? R.E.M, The Connells, The Windbreakers? You get that giddy feeling with the jangling opener “Forever Far Out” and its breezy follow-up “Space Junk, Satellites.” “You Gotta Have A Heart, To have a Heart Attack!”  is the melodic phrase on “Tense & Nervous”  that jumps out at you in celebration.

Additional highlights include “Airwaves,” and “Everything = Dust,” and while not everything here sticks, most songs do. Guitarist/vocalist Terry Banks and bassist Hunter Bennett are joined by drummer Danny Ingram on this terrific album. It’s both immediate and engaging. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Nervous Eaters

The Nervous Eaters “Monsters + Angels”

The Boston-based punk rock band The Nervous Eaters may be old geezers, but they play a mean mix of garage rock, with grizzled bravado and energy. I mean, Mick Jagger is 79, and Neil Young is 77, so you’re still allowed to rock the house.

While more guitar pop than punk, Monsters + Angels is a superb showcase for songwriter Steve Cataldo’s thoughts on aging and other reactions to a world in crisis. An early standout here is “Superman’s Hands” with its jangling verses and forceful hook. “Hop Sing Said” is another chugging rhythm about the city, and “Chad” is a dramatic rocker about the ingenue that got away. Overall a very, very good album without a hint of filler, even the slower “Evilynn (Zombies and Sapphires)” recalls Procol Harum at points. A terrific comeback for a band that never should have left. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Seth Timbs and Dot Dash

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Seth Timbs

Seth Timbs “Record and Pause”

After reviewing Seth Timbs career a few years ago, I was looking forward to his next album. Timbs still plays those jaunty piano melodies that made his old band Fluid Ounces a long time favorite. His musicianship leans more towards classical pop on Record and Pause, so he is less Ben Folds-like and more in Billy Joel’s camp here.

“The Pay Off” is a marching melody that builds in both lyrical frustration and crashing percussion. The music consists of confessional stories, one of the best being “Church Van,” a vivid coming of age tale. The catchy single here “Feel Good” utilizes a booming beat and guitar riff to get across this anthem of youth and hedonism. The album then drifts into longer ballads like”False Alarm,” “Once More (Again),” and “Long Goodbye.” While these songs are good, they aren’t as memorable. However, fans of soulful piano pop will find that Timbs hits their sweet spot. Check it out.

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Dot Dash

Dot Dash “Proto Retro”

Washington, D.C. band Dot Dash moves away from the fuzzed out distortion and embraces jangling power pop. In the process, they deliver a great return to form. It all starts with “Unfair Weather,” a catchy rocker that’s brimming with energy. “Grey Blue Green” recalls classic REM and The dBs, with a wonderful rhythm guitar line floating under the melody.

The next few tunes are also sweet ear candy; “Dead Letter Rays,” “Parachute Powerline” and then “Tamed A Wild Beast” recalls The Ocean Blue a little. The shimmering guitar leads of “Triple Rainbow” boasts some wonderful chord shifts and “World’s Last Payphone” is another big highlight. Overall not a bad track, and very consistently produced. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Well Wishers and Dot Dash

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The Well Wishers

The Well Wishers “Comes And Goes”

Jeff Shelton (aka The Well Wishers) is one of the most consistently relaible power pop artists with a sound that is firmly rooted between REM and Bob Mould. On his 8th release Comes and Goes stays the course, it will please followers and earn new fans along the way. “Impossible To Blame” is a great example of what makes Jeff so irresistible; buzzing guitar rhythms, upbeat tempo and a catchy melody. He delves into hard rock and psyche-pop passages through several songs like “It’s On” and “Love Lies Last.” Lisa Mychols adds her vocals to the shimmering “Comes Around.” Its hard to come up with more superlatives for this band, and all I can tell you is pick this album up. Highly Recommended (as usual).

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Dot Dash

Dot Dash “Searchlighs”

Washington DC based Dot Dash has gradually shifted its sound over the years from a power pop band on 2011’s spark>flame>ember>ash to the fuzz alt. Brit-rock of Earthquakes & Tidal Waves. The band has now gone to a punk garage sound with Searchlights. There is a wild energy that is attractive on the opener “Dumb Entertainment,” and the PIL meets The Jam approach on “Lonely Serenade” and the title track are also enjoyable. But they careen off the rails on “10,000 Days” where you barely hear Terry Banks melody above the din.

The band still can crank out a classic  — “Wishing Star” is great songwriting, with sweet chord progressions and solos. A few more standouts include “Holly Garland” and “Fading Out.” The rest of the album was a little more challenging to stick through only because the songs tend to blend into each other. Still worth a listen and including on your playlist.

Beautiful Music

Free Music Monday (okay, mostly free): Dot Dash, Jasko, Ballard and Rocket and The Ghost

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Dot Dash are really on the cusp of greatness here – “Hands of Time” from their third album, Half-Remembered Dream, released a few months back is a gem, and here is the single as a free Bandcamp download.

Jasko. That’s all. I don’t have any other info on Todd Jasko, only that he did this free album, in the spirit of DIY power pop. Enjoy!

Ballard. Cool Lo-fi indie pop. The debut was kinda rough around the edges, but this band has improved quite a bit. And to make it worth your time they have added two free albums. The band still has that a garage punk pop ethic, kinda like The Eels.

Rocket and The Ghost. Okay this isn’t free, but it’s damn awesome indie power pop by what could be “the next big thing.”  Yes they have an EP out on iTunes, so be ambitious and get this.

Free Music Monday: The Kavanaghs, Salt III, The Kimballs, Dot Dash

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The Kavanaghs “Need A Pity Day” EP
FREE 2013 EP includes the single “Need A Pity Day”, from the critically acclaimed Love Conquers Pain album, plus 3 unreleased tracks that were going to be part of the album but were not included on the final version.

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Salt III “Salt III”
A collaboration of American Michael Zwecker (The Poster Boy) to sit down with Russian Oleg “Toof” Zubkov (Kollaps) to hammer out a new pact under the guidance of Hungarian diplomats Zoltan Kovary (The Trousers) and Imre Poniklo (amber smith). Stockpile these tunes, they are awesome!

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The Kimballs
The Kimballs are Tom Burns (vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion) and Michael Mark (drums, percussion, vocals.) The indie rock duo grew up in suburban Colonia, New Jersey, where they met as drummers in their high school marching band. They have been recording and performing together for over a decade. Earlier releases available on CD Baby.

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Dot Dash
The new album Half Remembered Dream comes from this ever improving, ever impressive band in a few weeks. As a personal favor, they are letting you have their first song “(Here’s to) The Ghosts of The Past” for FREE. Get it and look forward to the rest. So far the band is on track for an album each year. If you want to hear last years release, check this one out.