The Dears "Degeneration Street"

The instrumentals and the falsetto vocals fight for the title of “Omega Dog” in this fight filled with strings, a travel into outer space as guitar solo, on a stream of consciousness, and distortion. This next song is a little simpler, and even though it only relies on “5 Chords,” driving rhythm, and gang vocals, it is enough to be a strong follow-up. My ears lost no “Blood” when listening to this, but I did think of Queens of The Stone Age when listening to this song; the harmonies, vocal delivery, and instrumentals all made me think of them. “Thrones” sounds like The Editors wrote a song in their own Soul Asylum. What’s life without a little “Lamentation?” There’s none to be had here, because it sounds like it recalls the wonder years; yes, those wonder years. I also cannot avoid the similarity he has with the vocals Tunde Adebimpe to some extent; maybe it’s the tone, but some instances it is more apparent. As you ride these “Galactic Tides,” you come as close to the space gospel as you can without being pulled in the atmospheric undertow. The next song recalls the sound of “Yesteryear,” and maybe someday I will recall what tune it reminds me of exactly. This “Tiny Man” seems to like Lady Marmalade, bluesy riffs, Aerosmith, and string instigated tragedy; enough said. “Oh I can’t grow up/I’m just a kid lookin’ for love/I couldn’t find it here on this dry land” is what consists of the chorus, as well as “Easy Suffering” which can be heard in the tones throughout this dust-bowl rocker. The following track doesn’t transport us farther into the past to “1854,” but it does sound like it could be another QOTSA song; at least in the beginning (without a doubt). The melodrama found on the title track follows a slow rhythm haunted by audio poltergeists, and the fact that there is no rest for the wicked, “so I won’t be sleeping when I’m dead.” As I walk on “Degeneration Street” I hear the opposite of an erosion, musically, but elsewhere there is a proof of decay.