Album
Review: "It Goes Without Saying"
Dum Dums - It Goes Without Saying
One man's heaven is another man's hell, and in America
those who would rather not eat apple pie, have a white
picket fence and drive a family saloon, invariably spend
their post-teen days rocking out to humorously shouty
mouthed songs about just how much life really sucks. Hence
the phenomenal stateside success of Green Day, Blink 182
and Less Than Jake. Dum Dums are of a similar mind. But
while "The Kind Of Day I've Had", "Everything", "Caught
Me In A Trap" and "Killing Me With Kindness" are skate
punk tales of dead-end jobs and general suburban hell,
it's skate punk UK style. Theirs is rebellion with a pop
sensibility more akin to The Jam or The Police than The
Offspring. That Robbie Williams' producer Steve Powers
agreed to produce them before they were even signed is
a clue to where they're really at. Like Williams, they
have an endless supply of catchy tunes, a healthy dose
of rock attitude and, in "Lonely Hearts Company", "Army
Of Two" and the epic power weepy "Until My Ship Comes
In", the ability to tug at the heart strings and still
be cool.
Review by Dan Gennoe
http://www.amazon.co.uk
Dum
Dums – It Goes Without Saying
It's easy to take one look at the Dum Dums and instantly
dismiss them. They look like college kids, and we all
know how bad college bands are. However, anyone that judges
a book by it's cover, in this case at least, is missing
out on something very special. The bands debut album takes
in bouncy pop tunes, a punky attitude and even a couple
of slower acoustic numbers. But above all, the Dum Dums
secret weapon is simply great songs!! They may, at times,
sound like Green Day wannabees, but the fact is that they
have written some of the catchiest songs you'll have heard
in a long time! After just one listen several choruses
will have etched their way into your head. The album already
includes 3 hit singles ('Everything', 'Can't Get You Out
Of My Thoughts' and 'You Do Something To Me') and by the
sounds of things there are a lot more to come. Any single
track out of the 11 on this album could be lifted as a
single. Highlights include 'The Kind Of Day I Had', 'Caught
Me In A Trap', 'Killing Me With Kindness' and the potentially
huge 'Until My Ship Comes In'. Some songs make you want
to dance about the room, other make you want to mosh.
Some lyrics make you smile, others make you think. There
should be at least something here that will take your
fancy. I can't remember the last time I heard a debut
album this strong...
RATING: 89%
From: www.classic-rock.co.uk
Dum
Dums – It Goes Without Saying
The latest in the flourishing pop-punk lite movement of
fun loving revolutionaries, the Dum Dums are one you have
gotta love for the balls to call themselves stupid. Falling
somewhere between Green Day's distorto guitar, Weezer's
pop intellect and cheesy teen appeal of the Crocketts,
Josh, Steve and Stuart aren't all that bad. For one, they
aren't entirely without an idea or two, albeit pitched
firmly at sixteen year olds who are hating school and
loving the idea of an alternative lifestyle without office
hours. The first two tracks, 'The Kind of Day I've Had'
and 'Everything' kick off an ongoing theme of leaving
schoolwork and Gap shirts to the bland masses to go off
in search of a tropical dream in 'Until My Ship Comes
In' fleeing slacker ennui in 'Caught In A Trap'. 'Can't
Get You Out of My Thoughts' is the love song of a thousand
Hollywood teen dreams and one which is frighteningly familiar,
being nothing less than a straight ahead Beatles rip-off
(which may perhaps be subtly acknowledged in the track
'Lone Hearts Company'). Good, then. 'You Do Something
To Me' is the humour that leavens the d'oh with images
from a Jerry Springer universe with mom on the pills,
dad on the pull and girlfriend on a fairycloud. But can
I seriously be suggesting that these Dum Dums are worth
the price of a listen? Do I need my head checked? Well,
I've never claimed to be mechanically rational so screw
the taste fascists, the Dum Dums do not suck. Admittedly,
it is worrying that their music still speaks to me eight
years after my last acne attack but so what! It's fun,
energetic, and (with a pop sensibility that pays deep
homage to John, Paul, George and Ringo) not nearly as
dum dum as you might think.
From www.uk.e-loft.com
DumDums
- It Goes Without Saying
(UNI/MCA)
by Scott Hudson
PopMatters Music Critic
So what's in a name anyway? Well, if you were to judge
England's newest, most promising export, DumDums, by their
name as well as their goofy album cover shot, there is
a high probability that you would pass their record by
without giving it a second thought. After all, what kind
of a name is DumDums? And the music? It must be completely
silly, bordering on ridiculous. Right? Wrong!
This power-pop trio from Kent, as well as their sparkling
debut album, It Goes Without Saying, has made serious
waves in Britain. And with two UK Top 20 singles in "Everything"
and "Can't Get You Out of My Thoughts" under their belts,
DumDums are poised to reel in American audiences with
their unique brand of searing power pop. While the album's
first two tracks might bear a slight resemblance to the
post-punk spunk of Green Day and Blink 182, pigeonholing
these guys as a post-punk outfit would be completely missing
the mark. The music is high-energy guitar pop of the highest
order. It Goes Without Saying is laden with catchy guitar
riffs at every turn, uplifting melodies and excellent
harmonies that mesh perfectly with vocalist/guitarist
Josh Doyle's witty, tongue-in-cheek lyrics. And the songs?
Every song (notice I said every song) is not only radio-friendly,
but radio-worthy. From soaring, crunchy numbers like,
"The Kind of Day I've Had", "Caught Me in a Trap", "You
Knock Me Off My Feet" and "You Do Something to Me" to
the David Mead-ish lounge number "Lonely Hearts Company",
this record simply never lets up for a moment. Then there
are brilliant acoustic numbers as well, like the boy/girl
ode "Army of Two", the mesmerizing "Until My Ship Comes
In" and the hypnotic, untitled, hidden track, that seems
tailor made for Radiohead's Thom Yorke. It Goes Without
Saying is a monster debut effort and any critic who would
consider panning it either didn't listen to it or just
doesn't get it. Even if you're not a fan of power pop
music, you can't help but to be lured in by DumDums unique
pop prowess. The uplifting and optimistic spirit of the
album makes it impossible to dislike or to even find fault.
It would be like someone harboring animosity against the
great Jimmy Stewart. It just isn't possible.
Dum
Dums – It Goes Without Saying
If it’s a decent ration of Punk infused electrified pop
you desire – this album might just be wroth slipping into
ur basket. Speaker Pleasing and I promise you, ear catching
chords – addict you to the exposed tracks(all written
by doyle) They express their talents neatly and to the
point with tracks ranging from the bash your head off
the door punk style “Kind of Day I’ve had” to pop teasing
track “Can’t get u out of my thoughts” to A complete and
luscious mellow track called “Until my ship comes in”
BUT also slapping in a Good ol love song “Army of Two”
POSTIVE to Tug ur ear drums in the direction of the UP
button on your volume control. The equisite gigography
has rubbed off on this Stunning Debut album.……buy or be
refused your right to vote for REAL MUSIC.
Dum Dums – IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING
It is always enjoyable to open a CD, play it through and
be left with an impression that, at minimal, invites another
listen. The Dum Dum's debut release It Goes Without Saying
does just that, and so much more. If you haven't heard
of the UK band yet, chances are they'll be swamping the
airwaves fairly soon. Power guitar-pop in the tradition
of Blink 182 and Green Day, the Dum Dum's combine the
two band's ability to get'cha hopping while preserving
a quieter dignity about them. Already largely popular
in their native England, the band has only met the spotlight
for a short period of time, yet a kind spotlight it has
been. England's Melody Maker magazine boldly pronounced
"The Dum Dum epidemic is spreading through Britain faster
than the flu". The Sunday Times called the band "a fun-packed
powerhouse trio with energy and enthusiasm". NWE praised
the band's "pogo-pop songs about spunk, vandalism, sexual
frustration, boredom, scumbag record company executives,
small town zombies and bastards that tell you what to
do. We're talking Energy! Passion! Jumping up and down!
And confusion!" Yes, so the press has taken to them....but
should you? Consider this: the Dum Dum's may be the best
band to bridge the Atlantic gap since oh, maybe Oasis
or Radiohead. Still considering? This trio is the real
deal in a world of one hit wonder's, It Goes Without Saying
the young music fan's guiding light. Named in the tradition
of their music - fun - the band's lead singer, Josh Doyle,
found the moniker somewhere deep in his thoughts. Stepped
in harder roots, Doyle discovered a lighter side about
him, one that would eventually take hold and send him
on a quest for the ultimate pop band - musically talented
but not blandly plastic. After meeting with drummer Stuart
"Baxter" Wilkinson, and then eventually hooking up with
bassist Steve Clarke, the Dum Dum's emerged and gigs steadily
followed. After spending a solid summer touring the UK,
the DD's are set to spend their energy on a bigger stage
- the elusive American dreamland, a stage the band will
certainly conquer.
From
- www.canehdian.com
Dum Dums - It Goes Without Saying
by
Michael Kraft, Reporter
“The British are coming! The British are coming!” When
this call rang out in 1776, it meant the British Army,
fighting and war. In 1964, it meant the Beatles and new
fashions, and that invasion was welcomed with open arms.
By the year 2000, the British have firmly set their place
on American soil, and the American debut of It Goes Without
Saying by British pop/punk trio the DUM DUMS is a good
reason to allow them to stay. It Goes Without Saying is
a solid first effort. Songs such as Hole In Your Heart
and Can’t Get You Out of My Thoughts are catchy, power-chord
laden numbers, while the band showcases its softer acoustic
side on Until My Ship Comes In and Lonely Hearts Company.
It is a well-rounded disc that is decidedly English. It
is more raw, edgy and less poppy than American rockers
Green Day and Blink-182. On the other hand, it lacks the
attitude, edge and sincerity that has characterized British
pop/punk since the Sex Pistols and The Clash. Band members
Josh Doyle (guitar and vocals), Steve Clarke (bass) and
Stuart “Baxter” Wilkinson (drums) have a good genre-defining
sound. The music and lyrics are full of attitude, angst
and anger, but have enough pop hooks, memorable riffs
and vocal harmonies to pull it out of the hardcore category.
Still, the band tries to appeal to a more diverse audience
than maybe it should. While the music will attract fans
of the genre, the band’s immaculately clean-cut, well
manicured, almost boy-band cuteness will attract teenyboppers.
This image makes the listener occasionally question the
sincerity of the music since the band’s image and its
music are occasionally incongruous. Does this make It
Goes Without Saying a bad album? No. The music is catchy
and bright; the lyrics are memorable, and unlike the aforementioned
boy-bands, these guys actually write their own material
and play their own instruments. This album gets better
every time it is listened to, and with the DUM DUMS sweeping
across England like the plague, it was only a matter of
time before they hit American shores. Punk/pops fans should
definitely give this disc a chance; they’ll certainly
be surprised.
