Review / 200 Words Or Less
The Dumpies
Drunk Dial #8

A quick word on the Drunk Dial series. Basically, the label asks bands to get intoxicated, then record an original a-side and a cover b-side.

On #8, we get The Dumpies, who deliver 4 songs at a total runtime of five minutes. It’s fast, catchy and harmonized rough-around-the-edges garage-punk goodness. Take some of your favorite garage bands and speed them up. Take some of your favorite punk bands and add more melody. This meets in the middle, citing Scared of Chaka in the onesheet. It has the speed, but with more harmonies and little more restraint --which may be an ironic description given the Drunk Dial concept. On the b-side, the group covers The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, who I had never heard of previously, but has a ‘60s vibe with potent melodies but played Dumpies-style here.

If you like scrappy DIY punk with pop sensibility, perhaps a bit on the lo-fi side, this should be right up your alley. It’s raw and unproduced, letting the energy rip and roar.