Dum Dum Girls show growth on ‘Too True’

By Dylan Frost

It is always interesting to see how bands have matured by the release of their third full-length album. That evolution does not always hold up, but very often it seems groups have found their voice in terms of tone and composition a few albums deep.

In this case, the Dum Dum Girls have blossomed into a mature act with “Too True.” The Dum Dum Girls’ transition from “Only in Dreams” three years ago to today isn’t too radical, but “Too True” is poised more like a new wave fantasy. It is still dark and mystic like their previous works but with a much more smoothed-out tone.

However, what has not changed is the rambunctious nature of each song that echoes with enthusiasm for two-and-a-half- to four-minutes long. Front woman Dee Dee Penny maintains the luscious attitude in her vocals that breathes the spirit of Patti Smith.

Advertisement

From the get-go, the album surges into a surf rock from space anthem in “Cult of Love.” The song has the groovy instrumentation of all the old Ventures songs of the ‘60s fused with the astral gloom of ‘80s goth-rock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT1viL10TFs

Halfway through the album “Too True To Be Good” glistens into a genuine dream-pop ballad rich with chorus and echo effects. The trembling, gloomy-sounding guitar makes the piece emotionally heavy like a Slowdive song; however, the vocals overshadowing the song give it the pop element reminiscent of ‘90s alternative rockers Lush. The result is a balanced and dense sound that delineates the beauty of ‘90s shoegaze. It is overwhelming and comforting.

“Rimbaud Eyes” is evidently the true single as it is the first track where Penny’s voice grabs listeners’ attentions. It has The Breeders’ zeal, only the Dum Dum Girls track is slicker and the vacuum of reverb eliminates all distortion that would otherwise dominate the song.

The gothic eagerness has all but melted away by the album’s end on “Trouble Is My Name” – a song that is like a lullaby on a rainy day. It is the only song that doesn’t have a redeeming quality to it and in fact feels more defeated than any other:

“I had a vision/I begged and I plead/I had a vision/I wanted to be dead,” Penny sings on the closing track.

Advertisement*

“Too True” takes a few listens to really latch onto anything deemed compelling. The lack of change from the mid-tempo dynamic along with the short duration of tracks seemingly makes all sounds blend together into a devious, spaced-out orchestra – an issue that diluted the previous Dum Dum Girls albums.

Eventually Penny’s voice enchants and takes listeners through 30 minutes of what can be recognized as an apparent homage to past art rockers. The Dum Dum Girls are still miles away from being placed on the same pedestal as Patti Smith or Iggy Pop, but the group bloomed on “Too True” and could even reach a new level of maturity next time around.

“Too True” can be found on Amazon, Spotify and iTunes.

Dylan Frost can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter @DFrost90 or by phone at 536-3311 ext. 254.

Advertisement