Dinola - Up High
by Kevin Wierzbicki
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Dinola is a four-piece rock band out of New Orleans that's fronted by singer Sue Ford who has a voice that is sweet yet full of ominous overtones, a quality that perfectly accents the dark nature of cuts like "Late Night" and "Shut Up." "Apocalipstick" finds Ford sounding a bit like Pat Benatar while "Up High" turns guitarist Eric Laws loose to rock things up with a bluesy riff and a hot mid-song solo; the band's overall vibe is heavy but not overly so, a hallmark of producer Dave Catching (Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal.) Dinola's take on the oft-covered Screamin' Jay Hawkins chestnut "I Put a Spell on You" has Ford really turning up the heat and Laws once again going nuts on guitar; "Valley of the Wrinkle" closes the effort as Ford voices displeasure with an overly commercialized and banal local scene while the band, rounded out by drummer Jimmy Ford and bass man Edward Payne, tune into a 70's-ish blues rock groove. Up High is a very strong debut that'll leave listeners hungry for more, or better yet, a chance to see Dinola live.Get it in various formats here.
Dinola - Up High
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