The Dt's--Hard Fixed
Estrus 2004
The mere utterance of the word "supergroup" can cause eyes to roll and cynical prejudice to set in for even the most open minded of rockers. The best way for such labeled bands to combat these reactions in listeners is to simply bring it full force with the good stuff. Featuring former members of Madame X, Watts, and the Mono Men, the Dt's do just that on their debut album, Hard Fixed. In fact, it's all far beyond what even diehard fans of those previous groups would expect.
The best way to describe the Dt's sound would be to say it's like a cross between Big Brother & The Holding Company and AC/DC--this is music that swings on a pendulum between R&B/soul and hard rock. However, while these riffs are coming from that R&B source of inspiration, there's no question Dave Crider is the guitarist in this band. Even though the starting point is a bit different than in the past, his distinct style and tone ring clearly throughout Hard Fixed. For that reason, fans of Watts and the Mono Men should undoubtedly love the Dt's, as well. The real revelation here is Diana Young-Blanchard's vocal performance. A far cry from the laid back jazzy lounge style of her work with Madame X, the Dt's sound has allowed this woman's voice to finally open up. Her tracks on Hard Fixed come off as freeingly unhinged, like a slightly less abrasive Janis Joplin.
The cool interplay between these musicians is bolstered here by impeccable songwriting. Songs like "Proud Man" and "On The Ground" showcase the Joplin-esque feel of the Dt's music best, Young-Blanchard's vox taking center stage. Crider brings the hard rock thunder en masse with the monsterous AC/DC inspired riff of "Breakdown." His punk influences even creep through a bit on "Eyes To The Sun." When combined with the soulful vocals, this particular song should appeal a great deal to fans of a band such as the Short Fuses. The album ends with a convincing cover of "Chopper" which provides nice resolution for the Ike & Tina-isms which rear their head throughout Hard Fixed.
Perfect band synergy and songwriting add up to Hard Fixed being a winner. With this album, the Dt's have done a masterful job of broadening their scopes without alienating their past fanbases. Worth much more than a listen, to say the least.
Score this CD directly from ESTRUS
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