NW Noise Reviews
The Dimes - The Silent Generation
MP3 of Catch Me Jumping
“A loose and imaginative album showcasing a dramatic improvement in their craft, from songwriting to storytelling and elaborate instrumental arrangements.”
The Dimes are set to release their first full length album and I’ve had the chance to listen to the new album in its entirety before its release. Since the last week here in Portland has been nothing but clouds, rain and messed up summer weather I’ve spent a fair share time indoors. Besides watching episodes of The Flight of The Conchords over and over again (brilliant!), I’ve been listening to The Silent Generation trying to craft this review. I have a feeling that by this Friday, the weather will clear up for The Dimes and their CD release party at the Holocene, at last providing a sunny and positive backdrop for a solid and very good album from a local indie band.
The Dimes released their first EP, Atlanta, mid-2005; I attended my first couple Dimes shows after that and was impressed by their showmanship, musicianship and personalities. We just had to sit them down for interview and we scored an interview with The Dimes at the now-defunct but awesome ACME last summer. Since then, The Dimes toured and worked towards releasing their first full length album and The Silent Generation is the result of their efforts.
The Silent Generation is completely different than Atlanta. Though Atlanta is impressive as a first-try for a band, it now feels colder and less coherent when compared to The Silent Generation. The Dimes have seriously brushed up and dramatically improved their craft, from songwriting to storytelling and elaborate instrumental arrangements. The album is imbued with stories of demons, landscapes, cities, riots and a folkesque fascinating with describing the world.
Our favorite track on The Silent Generation is Catch Me Jumping, because that’s The Dimes to us. It’s compact, energetic, poppy and amazing to experience live. With that said, the track does feel misplaced on the album, sandwiched between the tracks New York 1930 and the Battle of San Jacinto. The more I listened to the album, the more I wanted to split it in two; to create a new topology; to rearrange the more rock and roll songs from the folky songs. I found that this need to rearrange mostly came from the mood I was in each time I played the album, and this is a great place for The Dimes to be in because they’ve laid bare their talent as songwriters, all the while retaining the familiar sound a lot of The Dimes fans still love.
We can definitely hear the musical influences of Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Death Cab, The Shins and The Decemberists (to name a few) on The Silent Generation. In fact, Letters in the Sea is crazy similar to the opening riff on Death Cab’s track Title and Registration. I also couldn’t help but notice the opening track, Jersey Kid, immediately had me humming Maxwell’s Silver Hammer from Abbey Road (the part about the trial and the jury); which, to me, isn’t a bad association at all to have take place.
We are really excited about the release of The Silent Generation and we feel it will be a welcome addition to the amazing amount of music released by Portland bands in 2007. We wish The Dimes the best of luck with their upcoming tour promoting the album, and you can see The Dimes this Friday, August 24th, at the Holocene for their CD Release party. The show starts at 8pm and will feature the music of Derby, Jonah, and Jasmine Ash.
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Amy H, Aug 20, 06:30 PM:
I feel the very same way! The Dimes are finally capitalizing on their best qualities and they are qualities their fans love. Can’t wait to see them at Holocene!!!
Carly M, Aug 22, 03:23 PM:
I have followed The Dimes since their beginning and I love them! They deserve to be recognized for their talent, energy, and hard work. Wish I could be there for the release party…