Dirty on Purpose – Hallelujah Sirens

Dirty on Purpose – Hallelujah Sirens / 2006 North street Records / 11 Tracks / http://www.dirtyonpurpose.com / http://www.dirtyonpurpose.com / Reviewed 13 May 2006

The style of music that starts off “Hallelujah Sirens” is a blend of the driving beat of early-nineties emo music such as Sunny Day Real Estate and Samiam, while there are hints of both psychedelic rock and goth rock present in the backing beat of the track. At some point, the muted vocals and sixties-tinged sound to “No Radio” should draw listeners to compare Dirty on Purpose to acts like Stereolab. Dirty on Purpose separates themselves from other sixties-sounding acts like The Boy Least Likely To because of the fuzz that they insert into songs on “Hallelujah Sirens”. This fuzz both distinguishes them from other bands and allows them to craft their only style on this disc.

While it is true that the vocals are the primary purveyors of emotion during “Hallelujah Sirens”, tracks like “Your Summer Dress” show that the band does not necessarily need vocals to create something that individuals can be emotionally affect by. When the vocals finally do kick in, the band has already created a stage in which the vocals can play their own part. The sounds that issue forth during “Hallelujah Sirens” are not just those normal sounds expected from guitars, drums, and a bass but seem to incorporate atmospheric sounds as well as a panoply of other noises to make a full-sounding disc. The incorporation of strings during “Lake Effect” has to be the most monumental change that Dirty on Purpose does on this disc; the style is much more sedate and classically-based than the more psychedelic and noisy opening to this disc.

The disaffected, softer vocals of “Light Pollution” adds a little Pet Shop Boys to Dirty on Purpose; the full sound is something that sticks with the band regardless of what style they end up choosing for a track. The band is working for nearly fifty minutes, and there is little indication that the band is slowing down by the time that the disc ends. For example, “Car No Driver” starts off with a guitar line that recalls the grunge movement of the early nineties, and in particular takes the mantle of Alice in Chains more than anything. Dirty on Purpose came up with an album that is diverse but still has the band coming forth with a solid sound that individuals will be immediately able to discern as being from the band. This is a good starting point for fans of Dirty on Purpose, and there should be little doubt that this album will be flying off of shelves sometime in the near future.

Top Tracks: Your Summer Dress, Light Pollution

Rating: 6.4/10

[JMcQ]