Dolly Varden - The Panic Bell
List Price:
Our Price: $12.99
You Save: $1.99 (13%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $4.74 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Music CD Cover
Artist: Dolly VardenEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2007-04-17
Music Label: Undertow Music
Soundtracks:
- Complete Resistance
- Everything
- Small Pockets
- ALl Gonna Change
- The Truth Is Told
- You Never Will
- Sad Panda Clown's Lament
- Triumph Mine, Idaho
- Your Last Mistake
- Good Provider
Free Music Notes for The Panic Bell
Free Music Review: a nearly flawless album and one of 2007's best
Hit: 5 Stars
in this modern age of recorded music, where the convenience of downloading has turned the music business back into a singles-based market, DV's 'the panic bell' proves that just because albums as a whole aren't selling like they used to doesn't mean that musicians aren't striving to put out collections of quality songs, sequenced and arranged with care. while the band has been putting out critically-praised albums and touring with a constant line-up for over a decade, dolly varden refuses to fall into the trap of creating the same album over and over.
from the opening notes of 'the panic bell', it is obvious that this is not a band to be pigeonholed into one specific genre. "complete resistance" and "everything", the first two tracks on the album, along with "you never will", which appears later on the disc, show the band at their most energetic and soulful. vocalist and songwriter steve dawson's vocals still retain a southern blue-eyed soulfulness that rivals alex chilton at his best. diane christiansen, dawson's wife and a fine songwriter in her own right, adds glorious complementary harmonies to steve's tracks which never seem contrived or superfluous.
the album never stays in one genre too long, leaving the listener to wonder just where the band is going next. on moments like "triumph mine, idaho", with its rocking, rave-up ending, "your last mistake", with hints of laurel canyon laid-back folk rock, and "all gonna change", with building harmonic intensity, dolly varden shows the band's appreciation for classic rock riffs and pop hooks. during these numbers, one can invision the band sounding amazing coming through a transistor radio speaker. dawson, again, accented by christiansen, floats over the music with the easy soulful vibe, but shows a different texture in these more traditional rock numbers, sounding more like marshall crenshaw or lindsey buckingham than van morrison or otis redding, but with no less sincerity or skill.
while dawson is the central vocalist on much of the album, christiansen's lead vocals on tracks including the angelic but mournful "the truth is told" and the subtle but effective social commentary "small pockets" are thoughtful contrasts to the more upbeat rock and soul thread that runs through much of the record. music fans that appreciate female vocals without trills and octave-jumping can find a great deal to latch on to in christiansen's strong but feminine voice.
beyond the vocal and songwriting talents of dawson and christiansen, the musicianship on 'the panic bell' is extraordinary without being showy. mark balletto again shows that he truly is one of chicago's best guitar players and that his strong live performances translate well to recording. the need for solid bass lines to create the soul core of the album is unfailingly accomplished by mike bradburn, and matt thobe's steady timekeeping holds the sound together while still remaining interesting and serving the diversity of the album's content.
while one should listen to the band's entire catalog to fully appreciate the scope of dolly varden's talent, 'the panic bell' is a fine showcase of a band that shows a great deal of growth as a musical unit, an understanding of what makes an album feel whole, and a mastery of a sound that is as warm as a live performance and, yet, professional without feeling overproduced.
The Panic Bell Poster
Though the Chicago band often finds itself linked with roots rock and alternative country, its first release in five years (following some side projects during the hiatus) is steeped in the influence of 1960s rock classicism in general and the Beatles in particular. The heart of the band's music remains the husband-and-wife harmonies of Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen, on material predominantly written by Dawson (though Christiansen's "Small Pockets" is a dark, delicate highlight). The opening "Complete Resistance" sounds like George Harrison playing Southern soul licks, while "Everything" and "You Never Will" are buoyant, propulsive pop at its most ebullient. "Sad Panda Clown's Lament" echoes a Beach Boys chorale, and "Triumph Mine, Idaho" kicks like the Rolling Stones before "Good Provider" provides a benediction. It's an album devoid of both weak material and rootsy twang. --Don McLeeseCountry Music CDs
Music Genres
Top music charts in P2 Best of 2007 - List 1
Arcade Fire - Neon BibleRelease date: 2007-03-06; Music CD
Best price: $8.10
Price in other shops:
Ryan Adams - Easy TigerRelease date: 2007-06-26; Music CD
Best price: $6.45
Price in other shops:
Joe Henry - CiviliansRelease date: 2007-09-11; Music CD
Best price: $11.24
Price in other shops:
Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter - Like, Love, Lust & the Open Halls of the SoulRelease date: 2007-02-06; Music CD
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops:
Dolly Varden - The Panic BellRelease date: 2007-04-17; Music CD
Best price: $9.52
Price in other shops:
Mary Weiss - Dangerous GameRelease date: 2007-03-27; Music CD
Best price: $10.63
Price in other shops:
The Gourds - Noble CreaturesRelease date: 2007-07-10; Music CD
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band - It's Not Big It's LargeRelease date: 2007-08-28; Music CD
Best price: $5.36
Price in other shops:
Chuck Prophet - Soap and WaterRelease date: 2007-10-02; Music CD
Best price: $9.05
Price in other shops:
Elizabeth Cook - BallsRelease date: 2007-05-01; Music CD
Best price: $10.48
Price in other shops:
Top Rated Albums
Richard Thompson - Sweet WarriorRelease date: 2007-05-29; Music CD
Best price: $9.50
Price in other shops:
Rilo Kiley - Under the BlacklightRelease date: 2007-08-21; Music CD
Best price: $9.43
Price in other shops:
Feist - The ReminderRelease date: 2007-05-01; Music CD
Best price: $6.39
Price in other shops:
Ryan Adams - Easy TigerRelease date: 2007-06-26; Music CD
Best price: $6.38
Price in other shops:
Dolly Varden - Forgiven NowRelease date: 2002-03-26; Music CD
Best price: $9.98
Price in other shops:
Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh RitterRelease date: 2007-08-21; Music CD
Best price: $8.04
Price in other shops:
Kelly Willis - Translated From LoveRelease date: 2007-06-26; Music CD
Best price: $8.79
Price in other shops:
The New Pornographers - ChallengersRelease date: 2007-08-21; Music CD
Best price: $10.28
Price in other shops:
Wilco - Sky Blue SkyRelease date: 2007-05-15; Music CD
Best price: $8.78
Price in other shops:
Lucinda Williams - WestRelease date: 2007-02-13; Music CD
Best price: $8.67
Price in other shops: