AWmusic

Dinosaur Feathers are a cool little band from Brooklyn, NY, who are making some great, and very original, music. You might think you’ve heard this kind of experimental music before, you know the kind: intricate harmonies, tribal rhythms, skewed electronic beats, pounding drum machine; but you would be wrong. Their harmonies are playful with the voices blending perfectly into something akin to Gospel but without all that praising stuff. Their melodies soar and are supported by twisting electronic beats and a surprisingly effective drum machine. Wait! I can hear you now, those of you who have read my posts before that is, and yes, I am admitting to the fact that sometimes, sometimes, drum machines can actually work. As much as I generally hate drum machines, I have to admit that Dinosaur Feathers have found a way to make me a believer (although I think History Lessons could have done with a live drummer but it’s still a great song).

This three-piece, Greg Sullo, Ryan Michael Kelly and Derek Zimmerman, have a lot going for them. Their music is different but catchy and fan friendly, their lyrics are smart without being so esoteric you can’t understand what they are trying to say, and they plainly enjoy what they are doing. They have redefined retro music by blending 60′s pop with a tropical sound that gives these songs an unconventional yet traditional feel. Their entry into the morass that is Christmas music, A Day in the Life of a Christmas Tree, sounds more like they are going to chop down a palm tree rather than a Douglas Fir. It’s a happy tune that sounds like they enlisted the help of R2D2 to add background vocals, very cool. A very tropical Christmas song, indeed. I couldn’t find it on YouTube so you are just going to have to do with my favourite song of theirs, Teenage Whore. Not a Christmas song, perhaps, but a great song nonetheless.

You can buy Dinosaur Feathers’ debut album, Fantasy Memorial, from Insound, Matador Records, iTunes, and Amazon. You can find Dinosaur Feathers on MySpace and their website.

And for your pleasure:
Dinosaur Feathers – A Day in the Life of a Christmas Tree