Dirt Box Disco – Legends

UK mutant punk rockers Dirt Box Disco make a strong case for keeping things simple and striving for the infectious energy of the classics.  There’s a little something for everyone from the mask wearing punker showpiece, Legends.  Melodic in spirit, boisterous in delivery, and intermittently poppy throughout, all thirteen tracks engage listeners as fellow partiers and not just passive listeners. 

Generally their songs fall into one of two camps – rock n’ roll tribute tunes or those that draw their inspiration from the EpiFat era classics.  The former tend to feature over the top guitar bits and weighty in your face beats.  “Rock N’ Rolla” and “I Am Rock N’ Roll” serve as exemplars of their rock star persona.   “I am rock n’ roll, you are rock n’ roll, we are rock n’ roll, this is rock n’ roll” sings front man WEAB.I.AM as he escalates into a heavy mid-song guitar solo that would fit the bill for an explosive visual stage show.  “Listen To The Radio” even goes as far as promoting tuning into the mainstream classics, dropping Ozzy Osborne and Twisted Sister by name as they sing about the merits of radio rock.  Probably the first time I’ve ever heard an underground punk act praise icons this big over their scene.

Aligning more to my preference are the quicker, more upbeat tunes that resemble melodic mid 90’s punk rock.  They’re the type that bring to mind modern European equivalents like Strawberry Blondes and classics like Millencolin.  “I Don’t Wanna Go Out Without You” hops along with a casual confidence and comfortable ease, making for a safe and familiar listen.  Without much to call their own though, these tracks can drift into passive territory.   Furthermore, lyrics certainly aren’t Dirt Box Disco’s strong point, which oddly makes the most stylistically in-tune tracks some of the most dragging thanks to some shallow, repetitive loops.

Dirt Box Disco is more than just a cheap costume wearing stage gimmick.  Legends introduces the band’s audience to an energetic freak show of punk rock promiscuity.  Admittedly, the rock n’ roll party mentality does grow thin with repeat listens, but there’s enough melodic glue binding the disc together to cushion the wear over time.  But as a starting point, Legends lands Dirt Box Disco firmly on the map.