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The Dials
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Flex Time
Latest Flame Records
Release: 11/08/2005
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Rated:
Review by:
Morley Seaver
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The Dials are a punk band from Chicago, made up of entirely of
girls. Their only male member, drummer Doug Meis, was killed
in a car accident this past summer. Flex Time is
13 cuts of punk that combine the energy of The Ramones with
other subtle influences such as The B-52s and Devo. Although
the songs are all guitar driven, there is this keyboard that
makes its presence known throughout, expanding the sound
from other punk bands.
The Dials are Rebecca Crawford (whose husband, a singer in
another band, was also reportedly killed in the accident along
with Meis) on vocals and bass; Emily Dennison on keyboards
and vocals; and Patti Gran on vocals and guitars.
The band does all the right things within the context of a
pop-punk record. The second song, "Stuck Inside," has a brief
bass/drums passage before being joined by the organ for
another couple of lines, then adding guitar. It's little things like
this that keep the record from being a standard, "Gabba Gabba
Hey" two and a half minute song. There is a real interesting
guitar line that kicks off the title track that shows the band is
not just about visual presentation… they can write good
songs.
As to be expected, all the songs power along at a brisk pace.
They range from the hyperactive start of the first cut, "Dead
Beat," to the self-assured rock of the closer, "High Tide."
Crawford's vocals fit the material perfectly, sort of squeaky-
girly but they're clear and engaging. Gran's guitar lines are
fairly inspired, changing up the sound from cut to cut. The
bass lines stand out as well in a lot of cuts with Dennison
throwing in some tasty riffs.
Flex Time is a record that has really grown on
me. I don't normally like most punk, but I have to say they've
won me over. |
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