Dorothy
Gifts From The Holy Ghost
Spinefarm Records
Three years ago, a member of the Los Angeles-based band Dorothy accidentally overdosed on heroin.Β As if watching the life leave his body, Dorothy Martin, the bandβs vocalist, surrounded him with the other members of the crew forming a prayer circle. Fortunately, he miraculously came back to life. This divine intervention resulted in a radical and spiritual awakening that is the inspiration for this, the bandβs third studio album, Gifts From The Holy Ghost.
The album opens with the guitar-heavy, upbeat track βBeautiful Lifeβ that celebrates vocalist Dorothy Martinβs own victory over her struggle with addiction. Martin delivers strong lyrics βDonβt let the demons get you downβ and βyou are more than enough donβt changeβ as an inspiration that addiction demons can be overcome.
βRest in Peaceβ, the first single released from the album, is an empowering, goodbye song that is loaded with potent lyrics mixed with strong vocals and a stomping beat that keeps the authoritative vibe throughout the song. Whether telling about letting go of someone, or overcoming addiction, it is a powerful message.
The pianos and synths in βClose to Me Alwaysβ reminds me of the hair band, power-ballad days, a song about mourning the loss of a lover. All the feelings of love and loss are felt in Dorothyβs passionate vocals.
The ending is the title track, with the lyrics βWe are gifts from the Holy Ghost/Weβve been living on borrowed time/we believe in the other sideβ that just sums up everything this album is about. The sultry sound of Martinβs voice and the comforting sort of country blues mixed with rock βnβ roll throughout the album really project a feeling of rejuvenation from start to finish. I hope it gets the attention it so deserves.
ArtistΒ Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DOROTHY – GIFTS FROM THE HOLY GHOST
Melinda Welsh