The Dark Romantics - Another Song [EP]

Label: Lujo
Release date: August 8th, 2006
mp3: Another Song For Another Night

Every once in a while a CD comes around that gets you excited about music again. I can say with certainty that The Dark Romantics will rock your ass off. It's the kind of music that should be blasting from your car stereo with the windows all the way down.

This 5 song ep was produced by Jason Martin (Starflyer 59) and is essentially a "teaser" for the full-length album that is coming later this year. Jason Martin's name should get indie rocksters' attention right away.

Need More? Frontman Eric Collins (Denison Marrs/The Party People) has joined forces with Dean Paul (John Ralston Band) to form The Dark Romantics. Oh yeah, I failed to mention that both of their wives (who happen to be sisters!) are in the band as well (Amanda and Carla Jones).

The Dark Romantics is Denison Marrs "on the rocks" with two shots of bourbon (which means it's nothing like Denison Marrs at all). This "teaser" runs at just under 16 minutes so it's enough to give you a buzz, but will undoubtedly leave you salivating for the forthcoming full-length "Midnight Kissing". These jams are darker, sexier, and dirtier, with bluesy riffs that will drag your ass out of your chair and make you dance (and I don't dance).

The EP opens with the title track "Another Song For Another Night" and it features ear-catching guitar lines and a chorus that will have you singing. There's absolutely no drop-off on track 2 "So Confused and We Like It" which lures you in with lyrics like, "You look even better than my dream last night". Again, it's tough to keep yourself from singing along.

Track 3 "When She says...She Loves You" slows the pace a bit, but is just as pleasing with synths and other random sounds introduced. Track 4 "Mode 59" is the most interesting song of the 5. The guitars just so happen to remind me of a Starflyer 59 song. The first time I played the CD, my wife walked over and said to me "This is a really cool sounding song." Well, she's right. I'll just add the fact that this is the most experimental song on the CD as it slightly departs from the dirty "straight-up rock the hell out of you" recipe of the opening tracks. The CD closes with The Dark Romantics Remix of "So Confused" which slows down the original a bit and throws in some synths for good measure.

These 5 songs will serve as a suitable summer soundtrack for those hot and humid evenings sitting on your front porch while sipping your favorite drink. Yes, some people may check out The Dark Romantics because Jason Martin is producing or because they like Denison Marrs. But once they listen to this EP, they will keep listening (over and over) based solely on the merits of The Dark Romantics. I can almost guarantee that fans of Denison Marrs and The Party People will be hooked on The Dark Romantics...or perhaps like it better in some ways.