Album Review: The Dickies - Dawn Of The Dickies
Reviewed by Dan Barnes
1979 would prove to be an exceptional productive year for Los Angeles punk band, The Dickies. Not only did it see the release of their debut album, The Incredible Shrinking Dickies in February (more of that one to follow in the new year), but also the sophomore disc, Dawn of the Dickies, in the October of that year.
Whereas the debut was fast and frenzied, for the sequel The Dickies decided to slow it down a touch and clean up their sound, using harsh, jangling guitars and driving drums. It all begins in an upbeat manner with Where Did His Eye Go? all catchy beats and guitarist Stan Lee’s clean strings. The simple chorus and singalong lyrics, delivered by Leonard Graves Phillips, reflect more of the UK’76 scene than the fledgling So Cal punk aesthetic.
Fan Mail has something of a poppy sound, making number 57 in the UK charts back in its day, and comes across a little like the Ramones’ more accessible sound. From here on, Dawn of the Dickies becomes much more of a hard-edged punk record, leaving the pop sound behind and sailing into more aggressive waters.
Manny, Moe and Jack feature a harder guitar and darker vocal, its rhythms being driven by drummer Karlos Kaballero and Billy Club’s bass. Gritty, with a big chorus, it shows The Dickies true punk heart; I’ve Got a Splitting Hedachi and I’m a Chollo are fast and antagonistic with speedy vocals and frenetic riffing; while album closer, She Loves Me Not, is a short sharp hypnotic repetition of the mantra.
Going back to listen to Dawn… reminded me of the wider array of sounds present on the record. Infidel Zombie finds Chuck Wagon coming to the fore through his saxophone and piano additions, Karlos’ skipping drums giving this one a horror movie vibe. (I’m Stuck in a Pagoda with) Tricia Toyota is made around an oriental motif and melodic chorus, unmistakably The Dickies in its delivery and unstoppable beats.
As Dawn… comes to its conclusion the band have one more surprise left in the form of Attack of the Mole Men, a strange title for what it probably the album’s most interesting tune. Rumbling bass and layers guitars, and a more complex vocal performance gives it very-much a Stranglers-vibe.
If ever there was a band who liked a cover version, then it’s The Dickies; whether that be Black Sabbath, Sex Pistols, The Banana Splits or Blodwyn Pig, nothing is off the table as far as this band is concerned. For this album, they turn their attention to the Moody Blues classic Nights in White Satin and, though a little irreverent in its delivery, the single still made number 39 on the UK chart.
Captain Oi! loves to put in some bonus material and for this release, the Skipper has included the third of Dawn’s… singles, Gigantor, a solid punk rocker that reached number 72, and the jokey ska stylings of Bowling with Bedrock Barney. Together that pretty much encapsulate what The Dickies are all about as a collective.
Dawn of the Dickes reached number 60 on the UK album chart upon release and still provides a solid chunk of the live set when The Dickies, still featuring Lee and Phillips, play a show.
The CD comes with a coloured booklet, featuring all lyrics and reproductions of sleeves and some of the memorabilia available at the time. This, and it’s predecessor are great reminders of what music was about having fun.
Be the first to comment