Category:
Rock

Try if you like:
Cornershop, Paul Weller, Primal Scream, Thievery Corporation

Dust Galaxy is the new solo project of Thievery Corporation's Rob Garza. Now you may think you know Rob Garza but even I wasn't expecting what I heard on the Dust Galaxy self-titled debut. Robe enlisted Brendan Lynch (Primal Scream, Paul Weller) to do the production for the album. 

Dust Galaxy proves to be quite a diverse set of songs. It starts with "Sun In Your Head", sounding a little like Garza's other project but then you start to hear a little more organic instruments with which Rob apparently has been learning while doing all his production work. Sadly, this ends up being my favorite of the 11 songs. The second track, "Limitless" borders on a dance-punk feel and is quite fun. "Mother Of Illusion" has a huge Primal Scream feel to it. "It's all Yours" is a slower ballad that doesn't do anything for Garza's voice. His vocals are something that get in the way on this album. Now I'm not one to talk but they seem very one dimensional. The Indian flavored "River Of Ever Changing Forms" is fun too but Rob's voice is purposefully dark and monotone.

When you get to "Sons Of Washington" it sounds a little like a Clash song. Rob does declare in his bio that Sandinista is amongst his favorite albums. 

I didn't care for "Cheribum Sing". It was way too repetitive and annoying to do anything for me. The album closed on a sour note as well, the torch-ish "Crying To The Night" has potential but doesn't quite make it.

It's good to see Garza stretching out beyond the Thievery Corporation pigeon hole he is in. No one would think that Rob hides behind the boards anymore. The results are mixed though and not all Thievery fans will find merit in Dust Galaxy.