The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
16
new
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: KATEY MORLEY – HEARTS & HEADS & THOUGHTS & DEEDS
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: LEAHY – “GOOD WATER”
SPILL NEW MUSIC: BILL JR. JR. (A.K.A. VANCOUVER SINGER-SONGWRITER RUSSELL GENDRON) TO RELEASE ‘HOMEBODY’ ON JANUARY 26 | SINGLE “DEAR NEIGHBOUR” OUT NOW
SPILL NEW MUSIC: CAPE TOWN PUNK-DUO THE SOAPGIRLS RELEASE “HEART IN BLOOM” – A LOCKDOWN TRIBUTE TO HOPE AND LOVE
SPILL NEW MUSIC: STRIPPERS UNION RETURN AFTER 10 YEAR HIATUS WITH NEW DOUBLE-LP ‘THE UNDERTAKING’ VIA THE ORCHARD | FIRST SINGLE “WE ARE THE UNDERWORLD” RELEASED
SPILL NEW MUSIC: ROCK HEARTTHROB RICK SPRINGFIELD MEETS CLASSIC ROCK HEROES BADFINGER FOR A SPECIAL NEW SINGLE “LOVE IS GONNA COME AT LAST”
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: THE LUXURIOUS FAUX FURS – LIKE A REAL SHADOW
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: UNMANNED – UNMANNED
SPILL NEW MUSIC: “SHAMELESS” STAR WILLIAM H. MACY RELEASES DEBUT SINGLE “WHISKEY DELL” UNDER “WILLIE CREEKS” MONIKER
SPILL EP PREMIERE: THE SHINING TONGUES – THE PRAYER
SPILL FEATURE: THE ROLLING STONES’ UNZIPPED – A CONVERSATION WITH THEMUSEUM’S DAVID MARSKELL
SPILL FEATURE: I WAS ROCKER SPICE – A CONVERSATION WITH KATHY VALENTINE OF THE GO-GO’S
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY – MECHANICAL SOUL
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRIEVOUS ANGELS – THE SUMMER BEFORE THE STORM
SPILL NEWS: LISA GERRARD AND JULES MAXWELL (OF DEAD CAN DANCE) SIGN TO ATLANTIC CURVE + ANNOUNCE NEW BURN ALBUM TO BE RELEASED MAY 7
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: CHURCH OF TREES FEAT. CAROLE POPE – “WORLD’S A BITCH”
  • MORE
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • TOTD
  • Books + Movies
  • Scene Unseen
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • TOTD
    • Books + Movies
    • Scene Unseen
    • About
REGISTER
@
LOGIN
Album Reviews
645
previous article
SPILL BOOKS: ANTHONY ROBUSTELLI - STEELY DAN F.A.Q.: ALL THAT'S LEFT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS ELUSIVE BAND
next article
SPILL TRACK OF THE DAY: VOWWS - "HEARTBREAKER"

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DIG – BLOODSHOT TOKYO

The Dig

The Dig
Bloodshot Tokyo
Roll Call Records
RATING

American rock band The Dig has released their latest album, Bloodshot Tokyo, and it may be their best one yet.

Bloodshot Tokyo is for those people who never knew that they loved the music of the 1960’s and 70’s. I have never been a big fan of music from this era, but this album made me reevaluate my musical tastes. The Dig has put a contemporary spin on psychedelic rock by using a variety of synths and crossing over to a more modern pop sound.

Although one of the tracks is titled “Tired of Love”, it seems that singing about love is all they plan to do on this album. It’s the overarching theme in the album, and almost every song has a different story or perspective on infatuation.

The first single from the album, “Simple Love”, is by far the best track, and it was the best choice for a first release single. It’s peppy and organ heavy, and a great place to start for new listeners. The entire album is fairly mellow and could easily be the new soundtrack to your morning coffee or evening wind-down. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear one of the tracks featured in the next indie romance film or playing in a local cafe.

If you are familiar with The Dig already, you will notice how much more upbeat this album is from their previous records, yet it is still relaxing. Although their older music was great, the happier sound is a welcome change for the band. The new sound could be attributed to the addition of drummer Mark Demiglio who seems to bring a modern pop vibe to The Dig’s more moody and slow side.

Fantasy is also a strong theme in the album, which includes both dreamy lyrics and sounds. “Jet Black Hair” has a distinctly folk sound and lyrically plays on the fairytale story of Rapunzel, but with a twist. In this story, they sing, “throw down your jet black hair”. This sounds like the Lumineers are rubbing off on the quartet, as they previously toured together. This track is one of my favourites because of the folk sound and the clever lyrics. It was also one of the first singles the band released from this record.

The band members say they found inspiration from music that was popular in the 60’s, like The Kinks, Harry Nilsson, Betty Harris and Parliament. While I haven’t had the chance to listen to these bands, I’m considering it.

As for why the album is titled Bloodshot Tokyo; that is still up for debate. The band has announced a North American tour scheduled to play 25 shows. This includes a stop in Toronto at the Velvet Underground on February 28th. If The Dig can bring the same level of talent and pep to their tour that the album has, I’m looking forward to being in the crowd.


Artist Links

website_flat_2016 facebook_flat_2016 twitter_flat_2016 instagram_flat_2016 youtube_flat_2016 spotify_flat_2016

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DIG – BLOODSHOT TOKYO

Author

Josie Mills

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
50.4
8.0
Total Spill Rating
50.4
Total Fan Rating
1 rating
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewsbloodshot tokyoroll call recordsthe dig
album reviews, bloodshot tokyo, roll call records, the dig
About the Author
Josie Mills
Josie Mills
Josie is a student in her third year of Journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto. She loves going to concerts, exploring the city and often indulges in an endless stream of cat videos. She is also minoring in politics, but is completely unsure why.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewsbloodshot tokyoroll call records
 
8.0
Front Line Assembly
6.1

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY – MECHANICAL SOUL

by Trista Whitman on January 15, 2021
Front Line Assembly Mechanical Soul Metropolis Records After over three decades of music from industrial greats Front Line Assembly, they’ve now released their 17th album, [...]
 
9.0
Grievous Angels

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRIEVOUS ANGELS – THE SUMMER BEFORE THE STORM

by Aaron Badgley on January 15, 2021
Grievous Angels The Summer Before The Storm Jimmy Boyle Records The Grievous Angels made their debut in 1986, and The Summer Before The Storm, their eighth album, is [...]
 
7.0
The Dirty Nil
8.9

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DIRTY NIL – FUCK ART

by Matt Owczarz on January 1, 2021
The Dirty Nil Fuck Art Dine Alone Records Fuck Art is the third studio album from the Hamilton, Ont.-based The Dirty Nil, in which they reaffirm their commitment to keeping the spirit of [...]
 
8.0
George Thorogood And The Destroyers
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS – LIVE IN BOSTON, 1982: THE COMPLETE CONCERT

by Aaron Badgley on December 18, 2020
George Thorogood And The Destroyers Live In Boston, 1982: The Complete Concert Craft Recordings George Thorogood has been making music [...]
 
10
Paul McCartney
9.2

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III

by Aaron Badgley on December 18, 2020
Paul McCartney McCartney III MPL/Capitol Paul McCartney has always used music to get through difficult times. In 1970, when the Beatles split, he came out with the classic McCartney [...]
Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY – MECHANICAL SOUL
8.0
6.1
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GRIEVOUS ANGELS – THE SUMMER BEFORE THE S...
9.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE DIRTY NIL – FUCK ART
7.0
8.9
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS – LIV...
8.0
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III
10
9.2
Latest Live Reviews
View All
 
Lord Huron

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LORD HURON ALIVE FROM WHISPERING PINES: EPISODE 1 OF 4 (VIRTUAL EVENT)

by Robert Defina on January 7, 2021
78
 

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: WARDRUNA – ‘KVITRAVN’ PRESENTATION (ONLINE PERFORMANCE)

by Samantha Wu on December 10, 2020
110
 
Evanescence

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: EVANESCENCE @ ROCK FALCON STUDIO, NASHVILLE (TN)

by Melinda Welsh on December 5, 2020
45
 
Alice In Chains

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: MoPOP PRESENTS: ALICE IN CHAINS @ MUSEUM OF POP CULTURE, SEATTLE (WA)

by Gerrod Harris on December 1, 2020
56
 
Lowest Of The Low

SPILL LIVE REVIEW: LOWEST OF THE LOW @ LEE’S PALACE, TORONTO

by John Graham on November 28, 2020
1295
Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Spill Magazine Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2020 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL FEATURE: REMEMBERING LEX GORE: A SPILL MAGAZINE MEMORIAL – TRIBUTE BY SUSANA MEZA
2704
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN LENNON – GIMME SOME TRUTH. THE ULTIMATE MIXES
647
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MARY HOPKIN – ANOTHER ROAD
590
 
SPILL FEATURE: THAT GOOD OLD FASHIONED RAZZMATAZZ – A CONVERSATION WITH DALLON WEEKES OF I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME
587
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT – LIVE AROUND THE WORLD
556
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PAUL McCARTNEY – McCARTNEY III
528
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ALTER BRIDGE – WALK THE SKY 2.0
498
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GUIDED BY VOICES – STYLES WE PAID FOR
468
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JON ANDERSON – 1000 HANDS
468
 
SPILL FEATURE: TO FEEL OUR HUMANITY IN SOLIDARITY – A CONVERSATION WITH NINA HAGEN
445
 
SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: CHURCH OF TREES FEAT. CAROLE POPE – “WORLD’S A BITCH”
429
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY – MECHANICAL SOUL
420
 
SPILL FEATURE: GIVE THE DRUMMER SOME – A CONVERSATION WITH CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA
365
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES