Rarely does an album capture the imagination as much as this one. This mixture of heart-breaking tones and uplifting melodies should have propelled this Brooklyn four piece to stardom. Unfortunately, as I write this, two months have passed since they parted ways.
There's plenty going on, shoegazey riffs, vocals reminiscent of Stuart Murdoch (Belle & Sebastian) and a Shins-esque lo-fi sound. The glorious opener, No Radio, begins with a triumphant horn and guitar intro, presenting the joyous side of the album dramatically. Gliding down a notch with consummate ease, Your Summer Dress kicks off with a more sinister tone before emerging into a fantastic indie song. The lyrics aren't bad either, 'It's raining out, the sky is dark, you're staring at the ground, someday soon, I promise you it'll turn around". Shades of Snow Patrol strike through with the backing vocalist capturing Gary Lightbody's precious sounds gloriously. It builds into a crescendo that drifts to a close in a sublime manner.
There are a couple of songs on this album which don't do the rest justice, one being Love Effect, but soon we're into the defiantly optimistic 'Light Pollution'. Experimenting is one thing that Dirty on Purpose did superbly - and Monument is a great, er, monument to this. A 4 minute prog-instrumental song focused heavily on sharp riffs and complex guitar work that is usually more attributed to metal bands.
All in all, a truely exceptional album to spend an afternoon, an evening, or even a morning listening to. It's just a shame it didn't get the commercial success it deserved. More people need to hear this.
Rating: 9/10
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