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From the opening seconds of
Pet Your Friends, Dishwalla stands out from the other grunge
rock groups of the mid-1990's. While certainly a heavy sound, the opening
track, Pretty Babies, has more than enough groove and ambience to
set the band apart from other sounds. This is a great song, and fairly
straight forward.
As you listen to JR
Richard's smooth vocals and interpret the cultural commentary the lyrics
offer, Dishwalla strikes you as more than meets the eye. The band
makes extensive use of every rock and roll tool available including
sampling a variety of sounds. This first track sets these musicians up as
masters of song craft, skillfully managing the breakdown and pick up.
Haze begins as a chill groove, layered and sculpted from their
instruments. A very powerful song, Haze culminates into a solid,
pounding force you can't help but move to.
Dishwalla's infamous
Counting Blue Cars follows, sounding like it was written by the
heavens for radio play. While more popular in nature, Counting Blue
Cars still is heavy enough to belong on this record. More about
challenging authority and our perceptions of the world than religion, the
lyrics: "Tell me all your thoughts on God, because I'm on my way to see
her," still spark controversy. This song eventually won Billboard's Best
Rock Song of the Year, and allowed the band members to never work a day
job for the rest of their lives.
Explode sounds
exactly like the title, and explosion. Backed up to Counting Blue Cars,
this feels a little out of place as it is a much more intense song than
others on the album. Beginning in deep contrast, Charlie Brown's
Parents assumes the guise of a mellow ballad, but shatters this mask
in less than a minute and reveals itself as an incredible rock number. The
band merges the juxtaposition between Rodney's crunching lead guitar,
Scot's funky bass, and sweet blending vocal harmonies to create one of the
most interesting songs on Pet Your Friends.
Give is another
infamous Dishwalla song, easily recognizable for its funky bass
line. Give is most likely one of the best songs on the album,
treating you to a one minute groove at the end of the song laced with keys
and Rodney's soulful solo. For me the album could end here, leaving me in
Give's bliss. Yet Miss Emma Peel continues with surprising
changes so diametrically different, it could be the combination of three
different songs.
A dirty kick drum begins
Moisture, yet another song amalgamation. Is it a groove, heavy metal,
or a pop song? No matter, it is simply amazing. The Feeder and
All She Can See continues this trend. Only For So Long is the
perfect close out track, combining the band's talents for a powerful
end-cap to the record.
Fortunately, this is not
the end of the record. Interview with St. Etienne is tacked on the
end of the album as a bonus song. This is basically an instrumental with
an ambient glide punctuated by crunching swells surrounding a sexy sampled
female voice. An truly amazing song.
Some bands become famous
for one or two members. People like Pearl Jam for Eddie Vedder for
example. But it is clear from this record alone, that Dishwalla is
a band, a unit...one collective sound. Every member is crucial. JR
certainly uses his voice as an instrument, something many vocalists do not
do. Rodney is an extremely talented guitarist in the contemporary sounds,
but I would also suspect an excellent blues guitarist as well. Scot's bass
obviously comes from a funk background, while George's drums tie up all
the loose ends.
While Pet Your
Friends is a much heavier sounding album than I prefer the
blending and layering of different sounds and styles is incredibly
intriguing, and I am always finding a new element to listen to. It takes
true talent and musicianship to do this effectively, and millions of album
sales later show that the public approves. |
