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[ More Music Reviews ]

Dirt Mall: Pacifuego

Rock

Rating: 4.0/5.0

DayKamp Records
www.dirtmallofamerica.com
www.myspace.com/dirtmall
Review: Craig Hartranft,  02.22.2010

When you've got a good thing going, why change? Boston's Dirt Mall began with an idea of creating fundamental rock and roll. They embellished it with a bit of punk brashness, melodic sensibility, and modern garage rock creating 2007's Got the Goat by the Horns. This basic substance remains on this year's Pacifuego, a solid disc of gritty modern garage rock and roll.

I might even add that Dirt Mall have upped the ante by stepping backwards. Pacifuego has a more elemental and raw sound than its predecessor. While the aforementioned embellishments remain, they're more nuances than anything else. Pacifuego is a rock album, pure and simple. Strong riffs over a strong, yet minimal, rhythm section accented by whiplash guitar solos drive every song. Yet some songs have singular accents like the layered vocal arrangements on Lost in Plain Sight or the blues piano on Standing in the Road. Sharpness and brevity have always characterized Dirt Mall's rock as on the punkish I Am the One and Only. And Johnny Anguish is up to his usual wit on Rats where the vermin long to be Cats on a lively rock and roll number.

Ultimately, if you like your rock to be rock and roll, with garage grittiness and attitude, the Dirt Mall's sophomore release Pacifuego will be perfect for you. Recommended.

If you like your rock to be rock and roll, with garage grittiness and attitude, the Dirt Mall's sophomore release Pacifuego will be perfect for you. Recommended.

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