The Dirty Royals – Obsessed America

The Dirty Royals – Obsessed America / 2006 Self / 5 Tracks / http://www.thedirtyroyals.com / Reviewed 09 August 2006

The style of music that The Dirty Royals play is something that makes sense given what is on this album. The style of the cover is something that seems very sixties, British based. While the style of music is much harder than what did actually come out in the sixties, there is little debate in the fact that the band is influenced by acts like The Rolling Stones and The Who. The guitar work is without reproach, but the vocals during the opening track of “Obsessed America” seem to be a little overdone. The lighter accent present on “C I A” is something that is much more palatable. The track is more current in terms of arrangements; there is almost a burning punk tempo to the track that will be reminiscent of acts like the Offspring and early Husker Du.

The breakdown that The Dirty Royals have during this track is a little odd given the rest of the track, but it works well when compared to similar breakdowns by acts like Blink 182. Let me clarify; the band is not punk in any sense of the term, but they seem to have a lot in common with punk acts. I do believe this is due to the fact that both type of bands are following from the same type of influences; those acts in the sixties that would eventually influence acts like Green Day through the Ramones. The Dirty Royals have it down when it comes to guitar work, and the tracks do well in contextualizing these shrill guitar solos.

“There’s A Riot Going On” is a track that feels like it would be better on an Oasis disc, but if one of the band members from the Spin Doctors had the final say in what the album would sound like. The band only has five tracks on “Obsessed America” to amaze listeners, and that is exactly what they do on this EP. I know that I was skeptical coming in to this EP, but by the end of “Like A Sucker”, I knew I was hooked on The Dirty Royals and everything else that they stand for. I have faith in the band, and chances are good that they can come up with five or six more tracks to fill out an LP with much of the same energy and catchy style that made “Obsessed America” so endearing.

Top Track: C I A

Rating: 6.1/10

[JMcQ]