Guitar Lessons London NEW ALBUM REVIEW | DUM DUM GIRLS – TOO TRUE
NEW ALBUM REVIEW:
Guitar Lessons London NEW ALBUM REVIEW: London Guitar Academy‘s Paul Wood continues his brilliant series of album reviews. This time up it’s the DUM DUM GIRLS – TOO TRUE
“Too True” is the recently released third album from U.S. band the “Dum Dum Girls”.
Although live the Dum Dum Girls are a full 4 piece band, they are primarily a vehicle for the musical output of Dee Dee Penny, lead singer, songwriter and the only musician (other than co-producer Sune Rose Wagner) actually credited on the album. The band is signed to Sub Pop – check out the band’s official website:
The album is relatively short (and none the worse for it) – it’s ten tracks clocking in at just over 30 minutes. If anything, the shortness means you want to play it again as soon as it finishes.
The album is more of a “grower” than the instant appeal of acclaimed second album “Only In Dreams” – the tunes are darker and more subdued.
Sound-wise, if you can imagine Debbie Harry being lead singer for the Raveonettes, you will get a pretty good picture of the sounds on offer – classic girl pop vocals over reverb drenched guitars, bass and drums.
This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to anyone who checks out the album details – the albums co-producers are the legendary Richard Gottehrer (Blondie) and Sune Rose Wagner (one half of the Raveonettes).
Interestingly, Debbie Harry joined the band on stage for a surprise performance this month at the SXSW festival where they played Blondie’s 1979 hit “Dreaming”.:
Dee Dee is quoted as saying her influences for this album include: Suede, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Madonna, and The Stone Roses .
You get a strong feel of Suede (circa 3rd album) in particular on the single that preceded the album release – “Lost Boys and Girls Club”. Check out the official video:
And here’s a live TV clip of the full band performing their recent 7” vinyl only release from the album – “Rimbaud Eyes”:
Definitely one to buy and give repeated plays
Recommended listening for London Guitar Academy students
The guitars are generally buried low in the mix – it’s the overall sonic sound of the songs as a whole which is worthy of study. If you are looking for a guitar part, try the low solo in the play-out (from 1.42) of the album’s lead off track “Cult of Love”:
Favourite Track
Closing track “Trouble Is My Name” – catch it here (along with pictures from the album):
Useful facts:
The band are undertaking a short UK tour in May and will be appearing (amongst other UK dates) at the Scala in London on 1 May.
Full track listing:
Cult of Love
Evil Blooms
Rimbaud Eyes
Are You Okay?
Too True To Be Good
In The Wake of You
Lost Boys and Girls Club
Little Minx
Under These Hands
Trouble Is My Name
Blast from the Past
For fans yearning for the upbeat guitar jangle of second album “Only in Dreams” here’s the official video for the excellent track “Bedroom Eyes” from their 2nd album:
