Released: 2001
Tracks: Away; Prayder Willie; Gazebo; No Inhibitions; Let Go; Someone Stole My Secret; Frozen
Best track: No Inhibitions
Track to skip: none
The title is obviously a joke as this would be the first time you could have heard the songs. However, it’s not just a
joke title because now, a year and a half after its release, these songs *are* the band’s “standards”. I think that gives a good indication of what this band is about. They’re funny and they write some pretty wacky music, but the band is very intelligent. It’s really hard to give a one word definition of Djugdish’s music because they switch styles effortlessly and as quick and often as you blink. In the most basic terms, they’re a melodic heavy rock band, but that’s way too limiting. Let’s see, besides the heavy rock they go into funk, jazz, hip hop, bossa nova, country, drum-and-bass, opera…stop me when you get the point. That’s one of the main reasons I get really excited every time I hear a new song because you honestly have no idea where it’s going to go. This isn’t predictable, cookie-cutter, top 40 music here.
I’ve been digesting this CD for almost a year now and each time I listen to it I love it more. Djugdish’s live shows also bring out the goodness in these compositions. They are all *excellent* compositions. Most of the music (and all the lyrics on this CD) are by vocalist/keyboardist Androo O’Hearn. Lead guitarist #1 Matt Talbert contributes music in Gazebo and the album’s highlight, No Inhibitions. In sitting here racking my brain to come up with the “best track”, it’s always No Inhibitions that I think of first. I don’t know what Androo’s singing about, but the music is incredible. Not to mention the guitar solo, which is not only Matt Talbert’s best recorded solo, it’s also in a way the centerpiece of the album. It’s like the pivotal point of the album, everything swings from that point. And in the constant sea of heaviness, it’s this pure chunk of peace and beauty. So yeah, I think it’s a pretty cool solo.
The rest of the solos are spread out through Matt and the brothers: saxophonist Trent Talbert and lead guitarist #2 David O’Hearn. It’s always nice when there’s a bit of clearing for Trent to solo in and I LOVE that a heavy rock band has a sax player. The rhythm section is made up of drummer Matt Thompson (who also plays for King Diamond) and bassist Gary Thorne. Both of these musicians bring unexpected things to this music. Normally in a heavy bands you don’t find drummers who have style and groove. Djugdish is obviously the exception. Same goes for the bass position, most bassists in heavy bands keep their parts simple and low and usually double the guitars. That’s boring. It’s refreshing to hear Gary’s basslines because they are really melodic and creative. On paper (or a computer screen) it seems like all these different playing and music styles wouldn’t compliment each other, but Djugdish totally pulls it off.
So, about the disc itself. It’s only 7 songs, but it totally leaves you wanting more. Being 45 minutes long it’s a great length for a debut album. You get enough of a taster that you want more, but it still fulfills you on it’s own. All 7 of these songs are damn excellent and I often find myself putting the whole disc on repeat and just jamming to it for a couple of hours. The production on this, an unsigned band’s debut, is near perfect. It’s so clear and SO full. I’ve never heard a ‘local’ band put out an indie CD that sounds this good. So kudos to producer Eric Delegard for knowing his stuff and being as good as he is. I do not get tired of listening to this CD, and that’s all you can really ask for.
Rating: 94
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