This album is a rollercoaster ride.  Bear with me here —  I’m not talking “highs” and “lows,” but rather sheer noise.  The Dont’s succeed in producing the kind of noise that is less annoying and more exhilarating, like the overwhelming howl as you speed through the first drop and into the corkscrew.  And, of course, the chaos lends itself to the appreciation of eventual peace.  The quiet moments on Those Delicate Chemicals are a chance to catch your breath, take in the view, double check your harness, and brace yourself again before the next big drop.  And for being experimental indie-rock, it’s far from pretentious, which is nice.

Fans of their last release, Inner El Camino, should be pleased to find that there aren’t really any drastic stylistic changes on Those Delicate Chemicals, their third studio album.  I mean, when your style is already a loose combination of ‘80s and ‘90s post-punk reminiscent of Talking Heads and The Replacements, you’ve got a lot of style to play with.  The refreshing thing is that there isn’t an all-too-often shift toward the mainstream.  The record has its obvious singles, such as the peppy “Breakdown,” but there are plenty of heavily instrumental tracks that were likely the shortened results of lengthy improvisations.  Lyrically, there’s both insight and humor.  Lead singer Jonny Dont sings, “I am addicted to that thing you do in the shower, but I get conflicted by the work-related social functions you take me to,” on “So Strung Out,” a frustrated ode to what I expect is his girlfriend’s busy corporate schedule.   So succumb to his pleas, call in sick, and go out drinking to this record.

(SideCho Records, 2698 Junipero Ave., Suite 101A, Signal Hill, CA, 90755)

Verbicide Free Download: Click here to download “Breakdown” by The Don’ts