I might not know who Dusty is or why he needs cheering up, but one thing’s for
certain: after a couple of runs through this EP from Philly’s finest, he’s going to
have a grin a thousand miles wide.
Philadelphia’s musical tradition is legendary: Jazz pioneers such as John Coltrane, Jimmy
Fallon’s legendary sidemen The Roots and pop royalty Hall & Oates can all claim to have called America’s Garden Capital their home. Even if you’re looking for something a little more modern and, dare I say, a bit more aggressive, the city’s scene is still rife with classics: a Balance and Composure here; a Circa Survive there; shoegaze legends Nothing; the list is endless. The up-and-coming Cheer Up Dusty can now add themselves to that list of talent off the strength of
their new EP titled Don’t Take It Personally, Take It Seriously.
From the outset it’s clear that Cheer Up Dusty aren’t out to repeat themselves, or anyone for that
matter. The record feels urgent as well as breezy, with songs that go well beyond your standard
alternative rock tropes. Opening track “Personally” is a prime example, kicking off with an almost indie-rock-verging-on-emo introduction before kicking into high gear with a furious drum break followed by a downright shredding solo, the likes of which you rarely hear much of in this genre.
Cheer Up Dusty sound fearless throughout the record, and not for the first time either. "Small
Goals, Tiny Victories" begins with a meditative guitar arpeggio over the sound of waves
breaking, and if you close your eyes, you're transported to the set of Miami Vice. That is, until a rollicking overdriven bass guitar scythes into view, launching the song into an explosive pop punk verse before a hook-laden chorus lodges itself deep in the recesses of your brain.
The whole record has a fresh sound to it that is equal parts reminiscent of Knuckle Puck and
Modern Baseball, giving the songs a feeling of warmth and punch that suits them perfectly.
Whoever produced this record understood the assignment because listening to it feels like
getting a dose of fond memories administered intravenously right into your subconscious. All
the band members are on top form here, showing off not only their technical ability but also
their restraint and willingness to lean into the core aspects of the songs which let them speak for
themselves.
Vocal-wise, frontman Justin Humenik tugs at the heartstrings with his intense and passionate delivery. When the time comes he can always be counted on to provide a belter of a chorus as shown in lead single “Legacy”: “it never goes the way we want it to/my bloodshot eyes are staring at the truth”. This could be relating to anything the listener needs it to; a breakup text, the loss of a loved one, disillusionment with society and authority, it doesn’t matter. All Justin needs is for you to sing this one back as loud as you can, because that’s what this music is ultimately meant for.
You could make a case for any of these songs being the pick of the bunch, but for me the number one spot goes to fifth track “Murphy’s Song”. With an upbeat tempo and infectious energy, the song just screams “summer”. The chorus in particular is vocally layered and lush, with a descending vocal melody that almost gives off a retro vibe. Not too retro though, as once again the lead guitar steals the show with a blinding solo just before the last, and most bombastic chorus.
While Cheer Up Dusty have impressed before, this EP shows a true improvement in their ability to put together songs that grab you and carry you to a completely different headspace. In our always online hyper connected world sometimes you just need stimulus for your imagination and this EP certainly delivers in that aspect. At times melancholy and others aggressively honest, this is one record you’ll have on repeat all summer (and probably many summers after that, or at least until the band finally treats us to a full length release).
Reviewed by Oscar Manners
@oscarmrocks
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