Dramarama – Everybody Dies / 2005 33rd Street / 11 Tracks / http://www.johneasdale.com / Reviewed 27 December 2005

This brand of alternative, pop-laden rock has not been heard in any meaningful amount for about a decade. Imagine the happiest days of R.E.M. and Matthew Sweet swirled together to create a new hybrid and “The Bottle and the Bell” should come from that. The slower tempo of “Good Night, America” moves the style of Dramarama to the lightly-dressed folk rock of John Cougar and Soul Asylum; the track is still primed for the radio, but there seems to be more in the way of contemplation in this track than others. Coming back to a harder-hitting sound with “Physical Poetry”, Dramarama brings the tone of the disc more in a bipolar line. “Physical Poetry” is one of the most expansive tracks on “Everybody Dies”, for it bristles with energy given it from a number of different influences and instruments.

The particularly active role of the drum line during the track pushes “Physical Poetry” into the upper echelons of Dramarama’s music. Moving into plain rock for “Try 5 Times”, Dramarama shows that they should not be placed away with the rest of the anemic indie rock band. In fact, this classic, rockabilly-styled rock is a nice jolt mid-way through the disc. The disc is broken even wider during “Dropping The Curtains”, a track that seems to unite two disparate elements in the drone-rock of bands like The Verve with the progressive rock of bands like Pink Floyd. The longest track on the disc, “Dropping The Curtains” carries its extended length well and actually ends with listeners wanting more of the same. Finishing up the disc with “King For A Day”, Dramarama ensures that individuals will not get tired with the fare even if the disc is on its last gasps.

Dramarama come out with a disc that flirts with all different brands of rock without unnecessarily pigeonholing themselves into one specific genre. The sound that Dramarama puts out on disc is one that has been cultivated for a tremendously long period of time; this is perfectly shown in the talent exhibited in every song on “Everybody Dies” and the sheer replay value of the disc. Especially impressive is the CSNY/Jethro Tull sound that the band throws out at random with their secret track; the forty minutes of “Everybody Dies” speeds through like nothing when such a capable band takes to the studio. Over 15,000 fans cannot be wrong; pick this up.

Top Tracks: Untitled, Physical Poetry

Rating: 6.6/10

[JMcQ]