Album Review: The Dream Syndicate - "Ultraviolet Battle Hymns And True Confessions"

 

Something of a legendary underground band in their heyday, I'll be honest and say that my knowledge of the Dream Syndicate pretty much begins and ends at their best known album The Days Of Wine And Roses and its attendant minor hit Tell Me When It's Over which seems to crop up on a lot of '80s garage and US indie compilations. Mixing garage rock sensibilities with a more off the wall Velvet Underground influence, they were a bit of an acquired taste to these ears but there's no doubt that when they nailed it they most definitely could nail it.

Just under forty years on from that moment and the group are back. And interestingly, while the Velvet Underground influence is definitely still present (not least in the Lou Reed style vocals), Ultraviolet Battle Hymns... offers a more nuanced take on the formula to good effect - Where I'll Stand is all dreamy electronica and Damian could almost be a distant cousin of Sweet Jane with its languid guitar riff.

The quality of songs on here is pretty high throughout actually - Hard To Say Goodbye is a lovely dreamy summery song with its fuzzy guitars and horns while Trying To Get Over and Straight Lines both have a Talking Heads style nervy punk vibe to them. There's a pronounced psychedelic leaning to many of the tracks as well with Every Time You Come Around and Lesson Number One definitely owing a nod of the hat to Arthur Lee and Love in their sound. All in all, this is a good effort from the Dream Syndicate with variety, energy and a tunefulness lurking underneath to lure you back for repeated listening. Not bad at all.

Bandcamp Link

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌔🌑🌑 (8/10)

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