BRANDTSON
Dial In Sounds (Deep Elm)
Reviewed by Jason Thornberry

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While I think I'd most likely rather pass a kidney stone the size of a small piano than listen to anything reminiscent of Loverboy, I'll admit that I really enjoyed Dial In Sounds. This album, Brandtson's third, bypasses all of the bombast, pomposity, the Velveeta, and Aqua Net of those groupie-fucking chimpanzees who were "Working For The Weekend" and "Lovin' Every Minute of It."

I'm sure this was the last musical group that Cleveland Ohio's Brandtson ever expected to be weighed against, especially when sweating and toiling over such a studied excursion into post-Indie Rock. This really doesn't sound much like Mike Reno and company at all, but I kept thinking of the early eighties when I heard the production on the album in general. The fact that the tunes here are fairly hook-laden doesn't help matters either, though I seriously doubt anyone in Brandtson has that red leather crotch pose from 1981 taped to their wall. It's nice hearing a more vintage production like that today nevertheless.

Do you remember Patti Smythe and Scandal? There, is that a less compromising comparison? If you enjoy Garrison, Teen Heroes, or Appleseed Cast, then there's plenty to enjoy about this disc.

GRADE: A-.

© 2002 - Jason Thornberry