Dirtbombs - We Have You Surrounded
by Andrew Carver
published: 22 / 6 / 2008
Label:
In the Red Records
Format: CD
intro
Likeable fifth and latest album from Detroit-based garage rockers, the Dirtbombs
Mick Collins used to be famous for creating bands at the drop of a hat. Blacktop, the Gories, King Sound Quartet, Voltaire Brothers and the Screws have all benefited from his membership. ‘We Have You Surrounded’ is his fifth studio album with The Dirtbombs (including their split with King Khan and Co.). Collins strongest feature is his husky soul voice. He toys with it a little, adopting a faint British accent for kickoff track ‘It’s Not Fun Until They See You Cry’ and singing in French for ‘Le Fin de la Monde’. Collins’ cross-band repertoire has dabbled in apocalyptica before, so it’s perhaps not a surprise to see it come to a head in ‘We Have You Surrounded’, both in his own songwriting, ‘Leopardman at C&A’ - a vision of a loopy future to come co-scripted with comics genius Alan Moore - and his choice to cover garage rock grandfathers Dead Moon's ‘Fire in the Western World’. That doesn’t mean he’s dropped the pop for a panoply of fuzzed out dirges: Fun touches like the dumbo “do-do-do-do-do” chorus of ‘Indivisible’ permeate the album, and he pays tribute to pop kingpins Sparks with a cover of ‘Sherlock Holmes’, which also allows the rest of the ban to show off their growing prowess as backing vocalists. If ‘We Have You Surrounded’ isn’t the finest example of fuzzed out fun in Collins’ catalogue, it’s only because his body of work stretches so far.
Track Listing:-
1 It's No Fun Until They See You Cry2 Ever Lovin' Man
3 Indivisible
4 Sherlock Holmes
5 Wreck My Flow
6 Leopardman At C&A
7 Fire In The Western World
8 Pretty Princess Day
9 I Hear The Sirens
10 They Have Us Surrounded
11 Race To The Bottom
12 La Fin Du Monde
Label Links:-
http://intheredrecords.com/https://www.facebook.com/In-The-Red-Recordings-39064159876/
https://instagram.com/intheredrecords/
https://twitter.com/intheredrecords
interviews |
|
Interview (2003) |
|
| The Dirtbombs have recorded more records and played more shows than any of versatile Detroit guitarist Mick Collins’ many other groups. Drummer Ben Blackwell chats about their twin bass, twin drum line-up and new album "Dangerous Magical Noise' |
live reviews |
|
Babylon, Ottawa,15/4/2008 |
|
| Andrew Carver is impressed by both godfathers of Detroit garage rock, the Dirtbombs, and also support act Kelley Stoltz, at a show at the Babylon in Ottawa |
| 93 Feet East, London, 20/6/2005 |
| Dominion Tavern, Ottawa, 13/11/2003 |
reviews |
|
Party Store (2011) |
|
| Fabulous covers album from acclaimed Detroit garage rockers, the Dirtbombs, who have taken 80's and 90's techno classics from their home city and reinjected them with a new lease of life |
| Dangerous Magical Noise (2003) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Garfunkel and Garfunkel Jr. - Interview
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Clive Langer - Interview
Sukie Smith - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart