The High Dials - Anthems For Doomed Youth

The High Dials - Anthems For Doomed Youth

2010, Rainbow Quartz Records

Montreal rockers The High Dials return on November 2, 2010 with their fifth album for Rainbow Quartz records, Anthems For Doomed Youth.  They’ll be showing off their music tonight at the Rainbow Quartz CMJ showcase along with Broadfield Marchers, Capstan Shafts, The Volebeats, The Parties and The Grip Weeds.  Anthems For Doomed Youth contains the sort of swirling guitar sound and distinctive melodies you’d expect to hear if R.E.M. had come together in the early 1960’s. 

Anthems For Doomed Youth opens with “Teenage Love Made Me Insane”, a catchy, vibrant piece of hippy psych/pop that you won’t be able to get out of your head.  The pop energy in this time is likely to consume you.  “I’m Over You (I Hope It’s True)” is catchy, jangly pop in the style of REM but with a 1960’s feel.  “Chinese Boxes” uses doubled vocals, a strong melody and excellent pacing to deliver a pop/Americana feel, 1960’s style, sounding like something that might have come from a jam session between REM and Tom Petty. 

The High Dials, unfortunately, seem to run out of gas halfway through Anthems For Doomed Youth.  The sound remains the same, but the songwriting on the second half of the album is uninspired; an instance where an okay album might have made a really good EP.  Nevertheless, there is a distinctive sound on Anthems For Doomed Youth that will draw a lot of people in, and that gives distinctive hope for The High Dials’ musical future.

Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)

 Learn more about The High Dials at www.thehighdials.net or www.myspace.com/thehighdials.  Anthems For Doomed Youth drops November 2, 2010.  Pre-orders are available from Amazon.com on CD and Vinyl.  Expect wider availability in both traditional and digital formats.