Album Details

• Artist: Dinowalrus
• Album: Best Behavior
• Label: Old Flame
• Year of Release: 2012
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2012-06-19

Dinowalrus is, no, not the title of the latest Syfy original movie, but rather the name of an equally eclectic, though fare less campy, rock band. "Best Behavior" is their second record and, while much less obscure than their debut ("%"), it nevertheless builds off of psych, noise and techno pop to create a smart, glorious racket. The latest band from Brooklyn is one of the best.

The watery, dreamlike shimmer of "The Gift Shop" kicks things off with lush pop that deftly blends in some psychedelic guitar for some mid-song bite. "RICO" and "Riding Eazy" also mine that sweet spot. "Beth Steel" may be the best pop song of the last ten years.

"Phone Home From the Edge" is built on the kind of swirling but minimal melody that Van Morrison would have written had he been British and 20 in 1983. On the grittier side, both "What Now" and "Burners" work massive shoegaze around tight pop melodies to amazing effect.

"Best Behavior" is firmly set in mid-80s England, in a pop landscape that ought to be totally foreign to a band from Brooklyn in 2012. But this is no pose, and Dinowalrus are not sadly nostalgic. Dinowalrus ought not ignite yet another debate about bands that make music completely based on past styles because all current ideas are lame or played out. This is one band that builds off what has come before, updated it, and used it to showcase their own brilliance.

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