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10:
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timeless/perfect
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9 to 9.9:
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significant past 10 years
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8 to 8.9:
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significant past 5 years
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7 to 7.9:
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memorable
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6 to 6.9:
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standard playlife
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5 to 5.9:
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good for now
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4 to 4.9:
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will get a few playthroughs
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3 to 3.9:
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won't intentionally listen to this
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2 to 2.9:
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strongly avoid it
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1 to 1.9:
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no reason to ever listen to this
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0.1 to 0.9:
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rage-inducing
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0:
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no merit whatsoever.
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 Dynah
"01011001" (CD)
released in 2004
Label: self-released
About the time when Radiohead released Kid A all sorts of music magazines and random opinionated people developed lists predicting which bands would be pegged as "the next Radiohead." The writing exercise served two purposes: One, it was a medium for frustrated Radiohead fans who were unable to cope with change and who wanted to lash out at the band while lamenting for a return to The Bends style recordings and two, to help identify potential bands with promise that had lead singers with sensitive, pretty vocals. In this list there was Coldplay, the Muse, and some others. None of whom really sounded anything like Radiohead and were quite unfairly tagged with the Radiohead-junior label.
Bringing this up serves three purposes: First, this non-sequitur is designed to establish interest in the band to be reviewed - Dynah - by creating a context from which to read the review and secondly, craft a starting point from which to suggest this band has a sensitive, pretty sounding male vocalist and thirdly, to make a seemingly insightful comment designed to discredit some facet of music journalism while at the same time - being the critic of the critic- securing this reviews validity by trashing others’ validity. Quite also, this was an exercise in constructing the longest sentence ever.
Okay, umm, Dynah. So, the point is that Dynah are sort of reminiscent of those bands that are sometimes said to be reminiscent of another band that doesn’t need to be mentioned again. And if you are getting bogged down in what started off as a introduction and has made its way to being a colossal self-indulgence on the part of this reviewer you should know that Dynah’s 01011001 is an excellent album that doesn’t deserve this haphazard review but does deserve your undivided attention.
Dynah radiate a young and passionate feeling yet at the same time unveil a strong list of songs that don’t sound like the work of newbies. With seemingly little effort the band will tear through their poppy songs with just the right amount of edge, lightness, beauty, and brightness - everything in right amounts. Even the ballad “A.M.” which has mountains of potential of getting too sappy or dramatic is evenly keeled. Whether it’s individual songs or the album as a whole, placement and balance are right on. The slower, pretty songs complement the upbeat faster tunes.
Rion Baysus’ has a way to putting periods at the end of sentences and breaks between paragraphs by his vocal inflection. His lyrics run a pattern that completes full circle, because of the way he sings. The result is the very cogent progression of melody. And the vocal range is kept well within the confines of the spirit of the song.
The catchiest song on this album is “Ones and Zeroes” but every song on this album has something to offer and they are all quite easily digestible. Honestly, this is a really good album. The straightforward pop/alt/rock has been done before, countless times, but every so often a band will come along and make it interesting again. With 100 percent lockdown on writing, performing and producing credits the members of this band must bare full responsibility for this album’s content. Fortunately, this will be an easy burden to shoulder.
-30-
Review written on 2004/09/16 by Ryan Phillips
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