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Dirty Vegas - Days Go By
Hey! It's re-release of ad music time. It is a sign of how desperate the music industry is when most of the music people buy is due to their appearance in an ad. It's the case of the Video killed the Radio star, or more accurately, the Adverts killed the Radio star. However sometimes gems do pop up, that otherwise would disappear, like that Aqualung single for example. This Dirty Vegas track isn't as annoying as some other ad songs, if you compare it to their contempories in 'chill out' music, then at least they keep it moving. However if there are anymore of these chillout bands we'll be horizontal.

DNA Doll - Happy Valley
While speeding things up even further, DNA Doll start off sounding like a promising electro-rock cross over group. But then the vocals kick in, with a nasal Axel Rose style. If you strip away the vocals, they would sound a lot like the Music, with the whole psychedelic, non stop guitar lines and frantic drums.

Dustball - Sounds All Wrong

So, it's been five years since the first Dustball release appeared in record collections. Listening to this latest EP is quite interesting, just to see how the band have progressed as musicians. One thing quite surprising, even before listening, is the absence of some of the band's best tracks, such as Crash. Maybe they're saving them all up for the next release. But just listening to the tracks on this EP really shows how the band has progressed. Obviously they have matured, gone are the fast adrenaline filled sub 3 minute pop songs, instead there are songs that are equally punky, but it seems a lot more thought has gone in during the recording process. The songs also sound much fuller, no doubt helped by having an extra guitarist.

If there is such a thing as a trademark Dustball sound, it would be the style that Sounds all Wrong is in. Each phrase of the song is introduced by basic guitars and bass, that is silenced at the end of the phrase, so only the drum beat remains, a sort of start and stop method. It's quite interesting how there are multiple layers, both of guitars as well as vocals. The band now seem much happier with using backing vocals.

Something else that the band have developed recently are the melodic guitar lines, just like the one introducing Let the Blind Lead the Blind. Another interesting developement is how Jamie now changes his style of singing within the same song, from his distictive yelling to the more gentler, softer singing voice. Again this is another sign of how they have matured.

It's a shame that the vocals get drowned out in Deceit and Duplicity. Although the guitars are probably their best on the EP in this track, it does end up sounding rather messy. This is probably one of the best tracks to watch live though, from Jamie's squirming during the guitar bits near the end to the drums which gives plenty of chances for Nigel to do his in between bits.

Just like Senor Nachos, the EP ends at a slower pace. As a direct comparison, again Lying's What We're Here For is a much more complex song than It's Not My Day. It shows how the band aren't noisy all the time, and can be rather sensitive underneath.

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