The Drunk Dial series is a 7” concept where the label hooks up with a band, gets them inebriated, and records. Side A is an original, Side B is a cover. I guess the point is a spontaneous, live feel with a glimpse into influences. This time around we get Ditches, a power-pop/garage trio with a great catalog thus far.
Side A on is “Lost in Time,” which is possibly more cover-sounding than what’s to come on the flipside. Pulling from a Marked Men style of hyper garage-punk, the song has a steady pogo rhythm with sung vocals that emote feelings of loss and contemplation. The guitar is choppy, with a lucid rhythm section giving glimpses of sunshine through the clouds.
Side B has a bigger sound, covering “Abra Cadaver” by The Hives. I always liked The Hives but their schtick got old over time. This rendition brings me back to what I liked: powerful, loud rock with some swagger. This version adds some backing vocals that give a hyper element to the hypnotic, high-octane rhythmic guitar. Ditches speed it up and strip it down to its raw basics, which nicely complements the style as compared to the Loudness War production of the ‘00s in the original.
Clocking below 5-minutes in total, the record is a quick punch of rock ‘n’ roll that reminds why the genre made such an early impression and has lasted as long as it has: raw emotion, personal touches and high-strung energy. It’s the full package. Long live the 45.
