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Initially gaining notoriety during the rise of similar bands such as Vivian Girls, it would be easy to lump Dum Dum Girls into the exact same pile, yet something separates those two groups from being perfectly aligned (despite sharing a DDG sharing a former member of VG). On I Will Be, which is primarily the work of Dee Dee, there remains a large bit of influences, but underlying all that lies a certain sense of darkness.
You can put on “It Only Takes One Night” and immediately feel the edge that runs throughout the album. Rather than buzz and pop, the guitars seem to ring from a darker place, not ever quite breaking out of that seemingly haunting place. The vocals, too, have a bit of a dark influence to them, partly due to a bit of a vocal echo effect. Surely this is the influence of Dee Dee’s friend Mike Sniper (Blank Dogs), who makes similarly haunting tunes.
Even with that sinister tone hiding beneath, the band also have a touch of a softer side to them, one that definitely has its roots in girl groups of the 60s. You’ll find that style prevalent in songs such as “Bhang Bhang, I’m a Burnout” or “Rest of Our Lives.” The former uses backing vocals to bring back that nostalgic aesthetic, and it does so effectively. “Rest of Our Lives” is sort of a late 60s prom dance number. It’s slow moving, and the rest of the girls in the group, or perhaps just Dee Dee’s overdubs, gently float vocals in the background, as one would expect to see. These songs are easily enjoyable, though not necessarily pushing any new ground.
However much this band seems to stay in one of two places, they are capable of creating some spectacular songs. “Jail La La” is every bit as catchy as anything that has come out this year. This is one of the few songs in the collection that seems to rise above the influences and standout for its individual promise, making it a currently relevant pop track. Whether its the precision drumming pushing the pace of the song or the vocal quality here, the song wins you over instantly, never letting go. Another winning track is “Blank Girl,” featuring Brandon from Crocodiles trading vocal parts. The juxtaposed vocal tradeoffs are quite successful, and the psychedelic guitar cuts don’t inhibit this song either.
Adding a touch of kitsch, Dum Dum Girls cover Sonny & Cher’s “Baby Don’t Go” to close out the album. Personally, this song is a lot more affecting than the original number, as you can’t resist Dee Dee’s warm vocals here. Everything else seems to stop during this song, and the instruments themselves are just a tool for the female voice. At least you can accept the inclusion of the song for thematic purposes on this record, and for the fact that its a pretty enchanting cover.
As it ends, I Will Be is neither astonishing, nor is it a letdown (not by any means). You just have to weigh your personal feelings about whether or not this style is fitting for your listening habits. There’s not necessarily an over-abundance of originality, but you can’t let that detract from the fact that Dum Dum Girls have recorded some quality moments of music, such as “Jail La La.” You’ll find more enjoyable moments than not on this record, which is something you can’t say too often nowadays.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/04-Jail-La-La-1.mp3]
Download: Dum Dum Girls – Jail La La [MP3]
Man it’s been a hot minute since we’ve run an Austin artist to watch feature hasn’t it? Well now that the craziness of SXSW is over, let’s get back on the local hype machine wagon with a spotlight on Austin band Monarchs. You can’t exactly call this group a straight up solo project, but leading lady Celeste Griffin is the primary songwriter/founder/manger/jack of all trades in the group. Griffin, a recent transplant from Alabama, evokes a lyrical and vocal style similar to modern songwriters like Cat Power or Lissie while occasionally mixing in some old school twang elements along the lines of maybe Patty Griffin. The grit and emotion in Griffin’s voice is generally the primary focus on the Monarch’s first two self-released EPs, and after a few listens, you’ll see why such a captivating voice is the backbone of this band. Stylistically, Monarchs bring classical elements of southern blues while incorporating some subtle yet slick guitar and piano solos here and there. I’ll save anymore comparisons here and just let you listen for yourself with track “Come On and Move Me” below. Stay tuned for information on the band’s upcoming debut LP being recorded with famous local producer Mike McCarthy. We look forward to it.
