ARTiST: Dirty Sweet
ALBUM: American Spiritual
BiTRATE: 223kbps avg
QUALiTY: EAC Secure Mode / LAME 3.97 Final / -V2 --vbr-new / 44.100Khz
LABEL: Acetate Records
GENRE: Rock
SiZE: 70.11 megs
PLAYTiME: 0h 41min 47sec total
RiP DATE: 2010-04-10
STORE DATE: 2010-04-09
Track List:
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01. Rest Sniper, Rest 3:43
02. You've Been Warned 3:44
03. Star-Sprangled Glamour 3:44
04. Get Up, Get Out 2:59
05. Please Beware 3:24
06. An Empty Road 4:51
07. Kill Or Be Killed 3:49
08. Marionette 3:22
09. Crimson Cavalry 4:12
10. You Don't Try 4:52
11. American Spiritual 3:07
Release Notes:
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Dirty Sweet are an American rock band steeped in this nationÆs musical roots,
from country to R&B, gospel to classic rock and heavy metal to proto-grunge. A
mixture of disparate influences such as The Rolling Stones, Belgian jazz
guitarist Django Reinhardt and early U2 make them an interesting addition to
today's budding rock climate. The San Diego-based quintetÆs name perfectly
describes their two-pronged approach to writing and performing, what the NME
calls ôskuzzy, ass-shaking rawk ænÆ rollö crossed with the ability to pick up
their acoustic guitars and craft a melodic ballad.
Produced by Doug Boehm [The Vines, Elliott Smith, Screaming Trees], American
Spiritual is the bandÆs sophomore album and first for Los Angeles based indie
Acetate Records. From the soldiery ôRest Sniper Restö, a blast at warmongering
politicians to the bluesy, infectious "You've Been Warned" or the country,
roots-inspired ôStar Spangled Glamourö, with its critique of the
celebrity-obsessed media, American Spiritual is an album of and for today's
world, capturing the unpredictable and sometimes apocalyptic times in which we
live.
ôWe definitely have eclectic influences,ö says Detroit native,
guitarist/vocalist Nathan Beale, who joined the band shortly after they formed
in 2003 from members of such well-known San Diego area groups as Convoy, Jejune
and Lovelight Shine. ôEveryone in the group has his specific likes and dislikes,
and then you have this place in the middle where we all meet, and expand upon.ö
Let's call it the Dirty Sweet spot.
With their long, straight black hair and menacing beards, singer Ryan Koontz and
guitarist Beale could easily be mistaken for siblings or outlaws. The
songwriting duo's love of classic rock - as well as elements of country, soul,
R&B and gospel that make up their sound - is reminiscent of Kings of Leon. Like
the Grammy winning, now-platinum Kings, Dirty Sweet have achieved massive
recognition in the U.K. and Europe, where theyÆve sold out such famed venues as
Amsterdam's Paradiso. But audiences in the United States have started to pay
attention, and in the past year alone they've have played to huge crowds at both
Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza.
A review of last year's SXSW festival said of Dirty SweetÆs performance ôRyan
Koontz gives you everything you need in a frontman, his commanding vocals
matched by his shimmying and shaking across the stage. This band rips, with a
born-in-a-garage sound and an effortless Sunset Strip strut that also
appreciates the rootsy side of the street. Most importantly, they have a damn
good time up there, with their faces beaming as they assault you with a
balls-to-the-walls approach. Just a fan-freaking-tastic rock band, keep on eye
on them.ö
ôItÆs definitely fun to play,ö nods Nathan. ôWe get everyone to participate.
With a live show, itÆs all about getting the people to return that energy, so
you can create this cyclical thing between the band and the audience, where
youÆre all in it together.ö
It was that exchange between the audience and band that caught the eye of
Acetate Records CEO, Rick Ballard, ôDirty Sweet is one of the best live bands
I've seen in years and that energy is fully captured on American Spiritual.ö
ôWe wanted this to be a thematic album, with the title song about all that our
country has been through,ö says Beale for the follow-up to the groupÆs
well-received 2007 debut, àOf Monarchs and Beggars. ôThis is a moment in time
where things could go either way. We could fall off the edge completely or
figure out a way to fix everything.ö
On American Spiritual, Dirty Sweet attempts to begin that rebuilding process.