Having covered THE DIRTY HEADS at length on the last site I worked for, I’ve long-respected the band while not necessarily getting into them. Despite loving surf rock, I’m not a big ‘beach’ guy, and that’s probably what kept them at a distance. I tend to skip the Jimmy Buffett and leave the Sublime with Rome to someone else. With the release of THE DIRTY HEADS’ latest album, CABIN BY THE SEA (out now in standard and deluxe editions), something hit me and became very clear: their sun-drenched, beach-infused vibes are irresistible.
I was driving in the car listening to FACTION on Sirius XM when an acoustic, in-studio version of “Spread Too Thin” came on. Instead of turning it off, I turned it up. Then I had to get the album.
A mostly laid-back, 16-track collection that runs nearly 50-minutes in length, CABIN BY THE SEA is solid listen from front to back, one probably best experienced at those beach gatherings eluded to not only by title, but by added ambiance of crashing waves and seagulls calling during the Arrival and Farewell. With it’s acoustic grooves, reggae flavor, and hip-hop accents, CABIN BY THE SEA is definitely worth visiting.
For my Chicago friends, catch THE DIRTY HEADS on August 7, 2012 at The Congress Theater with MATISYAHU. Details here.
The Rock Father Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
