Dum Dum Girls. Yeah, the name reminds you of those silly little lollipops, doesn’t it? Well, if this group were to ever embody a lollipop, they would be the Mystery Flavor, hands down. The Girls’ sound is not blue, fruity or tart, but rather an eclectic blend of distinct flavors. For their latest album, the group had the assistance of renowned producer Richard Gottehrer, who has been behind such acts as Blondie, The Go-Gos, and, more recently, The Raveonettes. Without a doubt, I Will Be is just another notch in Gottehrer’s belt; however, it is a striking debut for the Girls.
The eleven-track album opens with “It Only Takes One Night.” Here, Dee Dee, the frontwoman of this lo-fi rock outfit, puts her gorgeous voice to great use. She wavers from elongated intonations (with a slight British accent…did you catch it?), to begging via a cringing and crooning style. It seems wise to refrain from labeling this track as a girly attempt to win a guy back, because it is certainly much more than that. Dee Dee’s vocals paired against bandmate Jules’s lofty, grungy guitar and Frankie Rose’s steady drums marks this track as a cross between The Go-Gos and the ‘60s pop-driven princess, Leslie Gore.
Although I Will Be starts out strong, it fades into “Bhang Bhang, I’m A Burnout,” a less-enticing track. While it’s undoubtedly peppy, with the grungy silver lining and echoing drums, you may find yourself bhang bhanging your head against a wall out of sheer boredom. Overall, a largely forgettable track.
As if “Bhang Bhang, I’m A Burnout” was not frustrating enough, the third track, “Oh Mein M,” has Dee Dee speaking in German. Dee Dee’s vocals on this song are grating and irritating. They’re distorted quality causes them to echo within your ear in an unpleasant manner.
Have no fear; all is not lost for Dum Dum Girls’ debut! The fourth track on the record is pure gold. It has a strong ‘60s vibe to it, but also channels a little New Order (c. Power, Corruption, Lies) with upbeat and downright gorgeous vocal melodies and a bouncy bass. It is the first official single off of I Will Be, and is definitely one of the strongest songs on the whole album. When you get your hands on the record, chances are you will find yourself putting this one on repeat.
While “Jail LA LA” is a strong example of Dum Dum Girls’ credibility as a ‘60s/’80s new wave-inspired act, “Rest Of Our Lives” is tailored to the band’s more contemporary approach to music. It is filled with everything you might hear in a late 1990s alternative rock track, if Sneaker Pimps or Garbage were in control. But do not get too ruffled, this song is still boiling over with the group’s retro intonations, albeit striking a more melancholic chord.
Luckily enough, the slowly-paced “Rest of Our Lives” segues into “Yours Alone,” a more upbeat and adventurous endeavor. The song’s lyrics are overly repetitive (“all my love is yours / yours alone”), but the music is what will reel you in and keep you hooked. Nick Zinner, guitarist from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, helps out on this song. With Zinner’s assistance, by the end of its all-too-brief length, the track evolves into something powerful and intelligent.
More than the other songs on the album, “Blank Girl” has an undeniable 1960s pop rock sound. If The Mamas and The Papas were to hook-up with The Jesus and Mary Chain, “Blank Girl” might be the resultant lovechild. The Crocodiles’ Brandon Welchez lends his reverbed vocals and guitar talents. When paired with Dee Dee’s vocals, Welchez provides the golden thread that weaves the track together.
The album’s title track, “I Will Be” is a splendid, gutsy exploration of both vocal abilities and musical ideologies. The girls spread their wings and use strong, chilling vocal harmonies, which they set against fast-paced drums and illustrative bass and guitar styling. Bambi, the bass guitarist, takes center stage on this track. Other songs like “Lines Her Eyes” and “Everybody’s Out” delve further into the depths of the Dum Dum Girls debut, but the latter is by far the more enticing of the two.
While this album, as a whole, is pretty strong, it ends on a strange note. For such a fiercely feminine group, their last track, “Baby Don’t Go” might have you second-guessing everything. It is almost four minutes of drawn-out lamentation of misery and love lost. It’s completely paradoxical; on “Jail LA LA,” the Girls are more fierce and daring than ever, but “Baby Don’t Go” has them begging at the knees of a lover. Come on, ladies? How could you wimp out on us at the last minute like this? Sure, it might be fun to sing along to, but as an outro, this track is nothing short of a disappointment.
Track List:
1. It Only Takes One Night
2. Bhang, Bhang, I’m A Burnout
3. Oh Mein M
4. Jail LA LA
5. Rest of Our Lives
6. Yours Alone
7. Blank Girl
8. I Will Be
9. Lines Her Eyes
10. Everybody’s Out
11. Baby Don’t Go
