Midwest Independent News and Reviews

I'd like to talk today about the album Flashlights (2006), by So Many Dynamos. During the process of beginning this article I stared down at the blank page of my Moleskine for several minutes having no clue where to begin. There is truly so many aspects of this album that are mind blowing that I couldn't decide on what I like to call "the punch point" should be for this article. None being more important/ legit than the other I decided to just start writing so...here we go folks!

I've never felt a more organic connection to a collection of songs in all my days on this earth. Lyrically it is absolutely flawless, with a near prophetic take of the state of our world today (How High the Moon). It is beyond eloquent, evoking effortlessly the emotion and vision from its listener that initially caused the writer to put pen to paper. From Search Party, to We Vibrate, to Home is Where the Box Wine Is, the memory of young lust is thick in the air! The feeling of doing wrong and feeling right about it is liberating.

To explain this album musically is not an easy task. Their sense of timing and production are impeccable. I can best explain it like this...acid jazz, fused with math rock, meets perverted dance pop. Would you like me to elaborate? I bet you would! I'd hope by now you are motivated to give a listen yourself. If I haven't quite sold it yet, by all means allow me to continue. After listening to track 6, In Every Direction you begin to realize how broad their realm of influence really is. The song is surprisingly dance club friendly. If it doesn't make you body move, I would seriously request a check of your pulse. The beat is infectious and the song finds a Blondie-esque, almost disco-dance groove.

One of the most interesting aspects of this album is the use of what seems to be a sort of "backyard friends choir" for singing background and chorus parts on several songs. I thought the traditional separation of natural musical ranges within the "choir" were underutilized but as a whole it was interesting and very effective. As lame as it is to admit, YES that was the best I could muster as far as criticism. I truly believe this is one of the most  underrated, underexposed, albums in recent history and it deserves a spin or two, so humor me children as you often do...