Labels: The Kids Can’t Understand The Emotion
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Two pretty new UK bands from Liverpool here that I know very little about. Here’s what I can tell you:
Dina play a kinda poppy punk / UK melodic hardcore thing. First song is the relatively short “Give Us A Smile” which features buzzing guitars, lots of upbeat sounding and fun melody, and it’s generally all round good. If over a little too quickly. The next song is called “My Emo”, heh. It starts off with a jangly intro that recalls a Broccoli song, and overall it’s definitely a solid mix of Hooton 3 Car / Broccoli stylings with it’s more rocking chorus contrasting the jangly parts. And finally we have “Ten Benson”, which is fuzzy and mellow indie pop / rock, is there a keyboard in there? Not certain. Overall, solid, not spectacular, but it’s early days, and they’re on their way. Rather intriguing to read their thanks list, I’m presuming that they used to lurk in the kerrang / brit-rock world from some of the band names down there.
Crucially, for a split CD, it’s obvious where the divide between the 2 bands lies. They fit well together, but don’t sound overly similar. Also, Grampus 8 get five songs to Dina’s three. Wonder if their was a fight?
Right. This first G8 song, “Knee High” is a fucking marvel. The melody has been lodged in my head all day. The band they seriously remind me of in places is the Kossabone Red, but they’re kinda obscure, so if I suggest Cap’n Jazz as an alternative, maybe people will be happy. “Knee High” is loaded with strained, high pitched boyish vocals, and just the most unfeasibly bouncy guitar riff this side of the Promise Ring. Emo pop punk genius, the bounce parts flow seemlessly into beautiful twinkles, and it’s all totally wow. One of my favourite pop songs in an age. “Minerva” is jangly and blissed out pop that gets a bit noisier at times, but would probably get on my nerves if they played this style all the time, but it’s the one song of the 5 that sounds like this, so I can enjoy it for what it is. Oh, another obscure comparison to make – a band called My Favorite Citizen. Who only ever put out 3 songs, but hey. “Sea Shanty Number Nine” has some form of extra instrumentation, a harmonica? I’m not sure. Oh, the vocal melody at the start is very Spy versus Spy, overall it’s a mid-paced, rocking emo number. “Story of the Seven” starts off with a fast paced, choppy riff that again recalls the Kossabone Red, especially when they drop off ever so sweetly into the twinkles. It alternates for much of the song between the two. Finally we have another incredibly catchy track in “Salvation”, that just carries on the fine start they’ve made in the other 4 songs. I can’t believe how well this band are playing the style, no-one seems to go near this kinda thing with a barge pole this days, it’s all Get Up Kids-esque whining and SDRE cloning, so more power to the G8!
Production for both bands is pretty rough and ready, but the songs shine through, particularly for Grampus 8. Get this CD if you like your emo poppy, and to check out the damn impressive Grampus 8.