Review: The Dirty Pearls ‘Whether You Like It Or Not’
Just like the band’s name suggests, New York natives The Dirty Pearls combine the shiny with the gritty in their music, and on “Whether You Like It Or Not”, the results are pretty damn spectacular. The band’s sound on this debut album can maybe be described as though some glammed-up pop and rock of the 1960s and 70s was poured into a punk-rock-sleaze shaker and then served, straight up, in a cold but grimy glass in a basement bar in New York.
The tracks on “Whether You Like It Or Not” are almost ridiculously catchy and hooky, and as good as the musicianship is, it’s the song-writing that really stands out for me. The Dirty Pearls knows how to put together the kind of tune that has sharp lyrics, gets stuck in your head, and makes you want to shake your yayas, all at the same time.
This band is solid from top to bottom. Tommy London has a voice that can do tender and smooth, but most of the time he lets the jagged edge flash through. Sunny Climbs and Tommy Mokas on guitar provide some great riffs and scruffy energy throughout, while Dougie Wright on bass and Marty E. on drums back it all up with some excellent heavy artillery in the rhythm section.
“Whether You Like It Or Not”, the album’s title track, kicks the proceedings off quite spectacularly. It’s pop-rock hit twisted up with The Clash, and it’s my favorite tune on this album. Next up is “Who’s Coming Back To Who”, with a smooth intro and chorus, giving it a shot of retro, while the guitars screech through it, speeding things up. It’s a tune that gets stuck in your head and doesn’t let go.
Other standout tracks include the irresistibly dance-y “Static”, and cocaine-love-song “Love Sick Love” with a roughed up poppy vibe to it and featuring yet another catchy chorus. (These guys seem to have an unlimited supply of those.)
The stripped down “You Got Me Where You Want Me” is a surprisingly tender love-song in the midst of the sex and drugs and rock’n’roll. Then the band races on with the rowdy “Sucker For A Sequel”, and the fast and sexy “Mayday” before wrapping things up with “New York City Is A Drug”, a love-drug-addiction ode to the band’s hometown.
“Whether You Like It Or Not” is an album that is cocky, catchy and entertaining as hell, with a loose, rollicking feel that gives it all an extra boost of attitude and energy. The Dirty Pearls keeps just the right mix of lustre and grime here, and as far as I’m it’s a winning recipe as far as I’m concerned.
The Dirty Pearls: website / Twitter / Facebook
This article is courtesy of Maria Haskins.
Please visit her website Rock And Roll for more!