Post by thedivys on Aug 14, 2006 17:29:59 GMT -6
Remember New Wave? The Divys certainly do!
There is a rock influence here as well that should be mentioned, it enhances the songs a great deal because it gives them a bit of a sharper edge and keeps them moving at a good pace, which undoubtedly helps keep your attention.
Their sound is vintage '81-'83 new wave pop, and you can tell that they truly love and respect that sound/era. So instead of sounding like a bunch of smart-assed ironists winking their way through every song, The Divys sound like the real deal - like a group that could have had a minor hit or two back when the likes of Flock of Seagulls, Thompson Twins, Eurythmics, and Human League were in heavy rotation on MTV. The main difference, though, is that The Divys have put together a strong album from start to finish, whereas even the better bands from new wave's heyday would give you like three good songs, and then the rest of the LP would be total nuts.
Also, The Divys draw from a variety of early-to-mid '80s inspirations (big hair synth-pop, new romantic electro-soul, dance/club music, John Hughes movie soundtracks), so they're emulating a general sound and spirit rather than ripping off one specific band. And when it comes to said sound and spirit, these fellows really nail it: the keyboards and drum machines sound totally authentic, as does the overall production. Were it not for the beefier guitars, I easily could have been fooled into believing that this was a long-lost release from '83, recorded by some obscure band that disappeared from the face of the Earth in the wake of a disastrous hairspray fatality incurred while opening for Men Without Hats. And because the songwriting is first-rate and the vocals are pure 80s (think Billy Idol sans the machismo), what could have been a silly exercise in nostalgia comes across instead as a thoroughly enjoyable listen and a reminder that good pop doesn't date.
There is a rock influence here as well that should be mentioned, it enhances the songs a great deal because it gives them a bit of a sharper edge and keeps them moving at a good pace, which undoubtedly helps keep your attention.
Their sound is vintage '81-'83 new wave pop, and you can tell that they truly love and respect that sound/era. So instead of sounding like a bunch of smart-assed ironists winking their way through every song, The Divys sound like the real deal - like a group that could have had a minor hit or two back when the likes of Flock of Seagulls, Thompson Twins, Eurythmics, and Human League were in heavy rotation on MTV. The main difference, though, is that The Divys have put together a strong album from start to finish, whereas even the better bands from new wave's heyday would give you like three good songs, and then the rest of the LP would be total nuts.
Also, The Divys draw from a variety of early-to-mid '80s inspirations (big hair synth-pop, new romantic electro-soul, dance/club music, John Hughes movie soundtracks), so they're emulating a general sound and spirit rather than ripping off one specific band. And when it comes to said sound and spirit, these fellows really nail it: the keyboards and drum machines sound totally authentic, as does the overall production. Were it not for the beefier guitars, I easily could have been fooled into believing that this was a long-lost release from '83, recorded by some obscure band that disappeared from the face of the Earth in the wake of a disastrous hairspray fatality incurred while opening for Men Without Hats. And because the songwriting is first-rate and the vocals are pure 80s (think Billy Idol sans the machismo), what could have been a silly exercise in nostalgia comes across instead as a thoroughly enjoyable listen and a reminder that good pop doesn't date.