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The Dalloways - extended plays |
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Review by Tony Bonyata While I don't often utilize this space to touch on EPs from new acts (you know, those Extended Plays that are longer than a single, but shorter than a full-length LP), every once in awhile I like to expose a couple of these acts I think deserve some early attention. Hence these two entertaining, yet decidedly different releases.Although not their first recording, the San Joaquin, CA band The Dalloways seem to be presenting their forthcoming EP as their introduction to the music world with the line "Who are The Dalloways?" in their press materials. What these self-proclaimed 'dream-popsters' trade in is lush, atmospheric pop rock that fits in comfortably with not only today's broad indie realm of music but also the synth-laden left-of-center pop of the mid '80s. Their 2005 debut Penalty Box saw the band miming to The Smiths, most notably with vocalist Gerhard Enns feyly crooning and cooing in Morrissey fashion with an over-the-top sense of drama, while guitarist Ricky Gonzales laid down jangley guitar lines similar to those of The Smiths' Johnny Marr. But the material on their latest EP, Dirty Money and Filthy Love, however, serves as a much cleaner calling card for the band. While Enns still sounds a bit maudlin and Morrissey-like, he's definitely starting to develop his own voice, as proven on the snappy '60s pop of "Me and Thomas Hardy," the driving opening title track and the lush, daydream lullaby of "Let's Climb the Staircase." The Dalloways music can be purchased online at: www.dalloways.com/shop.htm |
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(Self-released) 4 stars (out of 5 stars) Reviewed: Feb. 6, 2008 |
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Review by Tony Bonyata Whereas The Dalloways utilize their keyboards and synths for aural atmosphere, the Cincinnati-based gang-of-four Eat Sugar delivers them with a brass-knuckle-clad sucker-punch. Their high-octane self-titled debut is an electro-shock treatment of herky-jerky punk rhythms, angular guitar-lines, brooding keys and Aidan Bogosian's twitchy, spastic vocals.While the combustible nature of this down-and-dirty debut is distilled into a mere four-songs, the energy, conviction and passion screams volumes. Damn the cavities, Eat Sugar is one record you'll want sink your sweet-tooth into. Eat Sugar's EP can be purchased online at www.eatsugarmusic.com |