anamericangod
09/06/08, 03:47 AM
Dynamite Walls - The Blinding Lights Above
Record Label: None
Release Date: November 13, 2007
Dynamite Walls may be from Southern California, but the sound of their album, The Blinding Lights Above, transcends the sunshine pop the region has become known for. This isn’t to say that the album doesn’t have catchy lyrics or rhythms that are borderline infectious - it’s just that that is there is much more in addition to those.
The album opens with “Faces,” a fast-paced track with everything from guitar riffs to wailing vocals. Vocalist Tom Pritchard seems to channel Thom Yorke (Radiohead) at times, his voice crooning over a frantic beat in the background. Don’t mistake this for being a Radiohead knockoff act - this is simply one of the many styles the band is capable of pulling off. The follow-up track is the undeniably addictive song “Kiss and Ride.” This is an alt-rock tune at its finest, at times almost feeling like a throwback to some late '90s songs.
The band's ability to blend everything from crunching guitars, keys, tambourines, soaring vocals and solid percussion into as many songs as they do without having each track sound like the last is a feat that many groups these days fail to accomplish. There is no sense of repetition, no “didn’t I just listen to that song?”; while some tracks may have more staying power than others, it’s difficult to say there’s any filler. Pritchard’s lyrics are neither trite, nor perplexing; they paint the picture he wants to be seen. His vocals are probably the finest parts of the songs, bringing everything together and complementing the music perfectly.
With songs of loss, love, and discovering one’s self, Dynamite Walls have crafted an album with a little something for everyone. In a time where monotonous modern rock is plaguing the airwaves, The Blinding Lights Above is a refreshing departure.
Augustana; The Format; modern rock that isn't terrible
myspace.com/dynamitewalls (http://www.myspace.com/dynamitewalls)
Record Label: None
Release Date: November 13, 2007
Dynamite Walls may be from Southern California, but the sound of their album, The Blinding Lights Above, transcends the sunshine pop the region has become known for. This isn’t to say that the album doesn’t have catchy lyrics or rhythms that are borderline infectious - it’s just that that is there is much more in addition to those.
The album opens with “Faces,” a fast-paced track with everything from guitar riffs to wailing vocals. Vocalist Tom Pritchard seems to channel Thom Yorke (Radiohead) at times, his voice crooning over a frantic beat in the background. Don’t mistake this for being a Radiohead knockoff act - this is simply one of the many styles the band is capable of pulling off. The follow-up track is the undeniably addictive song “Kiss and Ride.” This is an alt-rock tune at its finest, at times almost feeling like a throwback to some late '90s songs.
The band's ability to blend everything from crunching guitars, keys, tambourines, soaring vocals and solid percussion into as many songs as they do without having each track sound like the last is a feat that many groups these days fail to accomplish. There is no sense of repetition, no “didn’t I just listen to that song?”; while some tracks may have more staying power than others, it’s difficult to say there’s any filler. Pritchard’s lyrics are neither trite, nor perplexing; they paint the picture he wants to be seen. His vocals are probably the finest parts of the songs, bringing everything together and complementing the music perfectly.
With songs of loss, love, and discovering one’s self, Dynamite Walls have crafted an album with a little something for everyone. In a time where monotonous modern rock is plaguing the airwaves, The Blinding Lights Above is a refreshing departure.
Augustana; The Format; modern rock that isn't terrible
myspace.com/dynamitewalls (http://www.myspace.com/dynamitewalls)