Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Review: The Dimes "New England" [EP]


Who would have thought that you could merge history lessons with music and still be entertaining? Alt-country and indie pop act The Dimes is poised to undertake such a project on their forthcoming new release (due August, 2009). In the meantime, I've been lucky enough to receive this "sampler" EP to whet the appetite.

The boys in The Dimes hail from Portland, Oregon and I have little doubt that the climate there has influenced their musical style. The generally slow and steady pace of their tunes seems to match the rhythm of rain, and the lyrical content is more reflective than most. I cannot think of too many people whose songs were inspired by historical happenings in colonial Boston, so strike up another A+ for creativity and innovation. Add in earnest vocals, masterful harmonies, mandolins, and an occasional banjo or accordion, and you have a refreshing 'indie folk rock' sound that combines the best of The Jayhawks with The Decemberists.

The catchiest and most instantly gratifying track is "Clara", but one of the more intriguing tracks on this gem of an EP is their re-interpretation of the John Lennon hit, "Watching the Wheels". Their take on this song is haunting and somber, which some may argue is even closer to the lyrical intent.

I don't want to rush the summer, but one great thing about the arrival of August will be listening to the new full-length release from The Dimes.

iPOD-worthy: 2, 4

The Dimes on MySpace. Official site. Note that you can download demos of the new tracks for the upcoming CD for free at their web site.