Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Dirt Russell - Dirt Don't Hurt

5/29/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Dirt Russell

​
Dirt Don't Hurt
self-released; 2019


3.7 out of 5

By Rebecca Rothschild

Dirt Russell's Dirt Don't Hurt is one of those EPs that doesn't need a lot of fluff from me. It's got an interesting mix of metal, hard rock and punk sounds presented in innovative ways. Let's dig in.

The first track is "I'm Sassy," and I do love this title. It's a fast and furious hard rock slash punk romp. Good for door kicking and cranking after work sort of thing. It's got a dated quality to it out of the gate, but this is a five-and-a-half-minute track with some very interesting interludes. In this way there is a bit of a classical composition quality to it. The vocal work was varied on the track which was interesting, but also contributed to that dated feeling in the back of my head. So far, I was intrigued.

“Black Snake” came next. This one moved more around the metal arena. It's another high flying fun time act. It fully embraces the void. Musically I was on board, oh boy do I like those drums in here. Now we're in head banging territory. However, I still struggled with the vocals and the treatment of them. The screaming voice work is pushed into the background, like it has to be somewhere else. There is some more intimate vocal work in the middle that was an interesting change up.

"Set Me On Fire" kinda hung in the air for me until there was an interesting interlude and while brief I was obsessed with it and listened to the whole song again. That interlude had so much fun and cheekiness in there. I would love to hear this group explore a sound like that more fully.

"Fool's Gold" put my back into a head banging zone, maybe a more modern metal sound this time. In fact, for some reason this song had one of the more modern aesthetics to it, and I was very much into it. Even the vocal work just felt fresher. It even at one point slipped into some cool surfy indie rock territory. This became my favorite song, the bass on here is unmatched - loved it.

Last on out of the gate is "Be Best." I doubt it would be hand picked by the first lady to represent her initiative, and that's her loss. There's a lot of impact here. The guitar is working overtime to deliver an epic sound that traverses all the scales. Again I think they found a great modern motif in this song. It's motivating and while clearly an homage to great rock of the past, this wild romp is clearly meant for today's angst ridden humans like myself.

​Big points on this album for ambition. No half-assing here; everyone's full ass at all times throughout the album and I can respect that. The biggest road bumps for me were in production choices and vocal inflection. Not a deal breaker though. I think there's a future for Dirt Russell and not just because I love that name and kinda need the t-shirt now.

Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band

© Divide and Conquer 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact