SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DALE MARTINDALE BAND – DALE MARTINDALE BAND

DALE MARTINDALE BAND
DALE MARTINDALE BAND
INDEPENDENT

Dale Martindale is best known as the lead vocalist for the band Images In Vogue. But, he has also worked on solo music and other projects over the years. Dale Martindale Band is his most recent solo album, with help from some friends. Joining Martindale on this album are Brian O’Callaghan (with whom Martindale co-wrote the songs), Darrell Flint (Images In Vogue and also co-writer for many songs on the album), Craig Flint, Mike Phelps, Sharon Bieck and Brian’s wife Kim O’Callaghan lent her vocal talents for harmonies. Martindale provides vocals throughout the album.

Dale Martindale Band is a much more guitar-based album than electro, for which Images In Vogue are (mistakenly) best known for. And, as usual for Martindale, the songs are very melodic and accessible. From the opening track, “All The Voices”, the stage is set for an album of rock songs, with a tip of the hat to the 1980s beat and structure. A song like “Go To Hell” is much harder (as it should be with a title like that) but also allows to demonstrate his strong vocals and shows how he can use his voice so perfectly.

Songs such as “Grace” and “Home” feature strong guitar work and, to some, may show a different side of Martindale. But keep in mind this is a Dale Martindale Band album, not an Images In Vogue album. The beautiful and melancholic “Everyone’s My Friend” (which Craig Flint helped write) is a slower sparse song that really works. Again, Martindale deserves a great deal of credit with his lyrics and vocals.

Besides the strong songs on the album, Dale Martindale Band succeeds because of the diversity of the music. Sure, it is pure Martindale and instantly recognizable, the songs offer a great deal of variety. The album is well produced, and arranged and it is a great rock album, with some pop leanings.

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