From a group named “Dominant Legs,” what in the hell sort of music should we expect? Tina Turner in black leather, maybe?
I can’t say I have a ready answer to the question. But it wouldn’t have been, for me, something like this: a Lynchian, sweetly blissed-out, dream-dancing, burbling-organ, saxophone-accented, group-sing throwback of a pop song:
[Lyrics (courtesy of Ryan Lynch of Dominant Legs)]
By “Lynchian,” I don’t mean just that it reminds me, musically — right down to the finger snaps — of the song “Freshly Squeezed” (from the soundtrack to (yes, I know, sorry: again) Twin Peaks). I mean it literally: Dominant Legs’s sparkplug is a young man named Ryan Lynch (he’s the lead singer in the video, and also plays keyboard and guitar). He’s joined by Hannah Hunt, who sings and plays keyboard (she’s the blonde woman above); Andrew Connors (bass guitar); Garett Goddard (guitar); and Rene Solomon (drums and percussion). The young woman whose dream-trip this apparently represents is played by Raina Mieloch. I don’t know who operated the mixing board, but I hope he or she got paid overtime.
The group just released their first album, Invitation, a few months ago. (For another taste from it, see the video for “Hoop of Love.”) They’ve gotten a lot of favorable attention from critics, but “regular” folks seem split. It depends, evidently, on whether you did or didn’t get burned out on 1980s techno-pop. Maybe I’m just an easy audience, but “Make Time for the Boy” is already on my list of favorite 2012 earworms.
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P.S. I assume someone will ask. So, just in case…:
[Below, click Play button to begin Freshly Squeezed. While audio is playing, volume control appears at left — a row of little vertical bars. This clip is 3:48 long.]
The title “Freshly Squeezed” refers to this scene in the very first Twin Peaks episode (the song itself begins playing near the end of the clip). Even after seeing the scene probably a dozen times, I still grin throughout. Especially at the end.
marta says
You made that Lynch reference just to make me listen!
The more the song went on–“Make Time for the Boy”–the more I liked it. I shall never tire of 80s techno-pop. I’ll be an old lady in a nursing home listening to Depeche Mode, Oingo Boingo, and music from Twin Peaks.
The video did remind me a bit of the 80s and a few Twin Peaks sort of things–the blond kind of reminds me a Laura Dern, a David Lynch favorite.
Now I shall have to listen to more of this Dominant Legs group…
John says
I can’t say that was my ONLY motivation in mentioning Lynch. Still, y’know… it’s a little (I imagine) like having had the chance to watch Pavlov’s experiments with the dogs and the bell. :)
Good connection, Laura Dern — should’ve thought of that myself!
Jayne says
I’ll admit I got burned out on 80s techno-pop. But I’d add a song or two of theirs into a playlist as a quirky diversion.
Thanks for the introduction, John. :)
John says
Welcome. :)
Eric says
I like the way you wrote about them. Sorry, I know this album is all in the past, but I fell in love with it this summer in France, and I was doing a little research & stumbled over your review.
John says
Wow. I don’t often go back to read earlier posts — especially the Midweek Music Breaks — but I’m glad you reminded me of this one. Still love the song and the video.
I think I saw that they’d played some European venues recently; maybe you saw them over there?
Thanks for stopping by!