Dum Dum Girls – Too True

Artist: Dum Dum Girls
Album: Too True
Released: January 28, 2014
Label: SubPop
Website: wearedumdumgirls.com

If Debbie Harry and Gwen Stefani somehow had a baby, I think we’ve found her folks, and her name is Dee Dee Penny. The maturing rock-pop sound of the NYC based Dum Dum Girls is definitely grabbing our attention, especially with their vocals and sugary guitar sound. Their third, and most recent, album Too True is bringing back the sound of shimmering 80’s girl-pop with a 60’s basement twist. This sound was brought to life with the help of producer Richard Gottehrer, who has led The Go-Go’s and Blondie both to fame. Upbeat songs like “Little Minx” and “Evil Blooms” will have you dancing along with the beat involuntarily and wishing that you were wearing neon clothes. “In the Wake of You” Penny adds some sneer into the mic to break-up the sweetness of the song while smearing the “indie-rock” label.

To break up their sound, Too True also features a ballad with a Madonna feel titled “Lost Boys and Girls Club.” The bridge of the song has an eerie glow as Dee Dee repeats “There’s no particular place we are going. Still, we are going.” The girls slow it down again for the last song on the record. “Trouble is my name” shows both a softer and darker side of the band and proves their potential for different dynamics.

Reviewed by Tracie Wilkerson