I’m in the interesting-yet-unfortunate position of writing this review based on the memory of two listens to a CD which will no longer play for me. So cut me some slack as I do my best up against failing modern technology.

Dirty Little Faces seem, at least on the basis of their press release (which mentions influences such as The Who, The Jam, The Beatles and The Strokes) an uninvitingly straightforward prospect. However, as memory serves me, the two tracks on this single are pleasant enough mod-tinged indie stompers, that might be better received if not promoted through the citing of names so quick to turn off many potential listeners in the holier-than-though indie fraternity. The choppy guitars, uptight vocals and character-led lyrical lines were a pleasant diversion and provided a few minutes of head-nodding satisfaction; but within seconds of the CD ending, Dirty Little Faces had become in my mind just another generic indie guitar band. The quandary in the current musical climate is that there a lot of bands doing a lot of this music with equal competence. Individually they can knock out a good indie disco tune, a good iPod moment to propel you along, but collectively it’s just melodic noise with nothing to define or inspire. Is it a complaint that a lot of bands make serviceable, listenable, yet ultimately unoriginal music? Not really – the complaint is that the more regularly it happens, the more each band seems an uninspired retread of something that went by not ten minutes ago – regardless of merit.

Dirty Little Faces
Fierce Panda

Posted: 08|7|06 at 10:00 pm. Filed under: record reviews.
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