This new Dingees album has all the ingredients you expected great melodic yet bratty vocals, nice songs, and fun lyrics. Thrown in are some ska upbeats (a la Squad Five O) and the occasional horn ("Votes and Violence"). Last year's Armageddon Massive had a little hotter sound in places (mostly the guitars). It's hard to critique this album, as it's all over the place. "Trial Tribulation" is reggae; "Dark Hollywood" sounds like a cowboy western movie soundtrack a la Havalina Rail Co; and "Staff Sgt. Skreba" goes for fast and hard aggression. It's hard to know where the band wants to stake its claim. They do great with a fun, poppy and smart-alek ska (a la Squad Five O) in tunes like "Chevy Malibu" and take it over the top in the fun "Leave The Kids Alone." I really like their fast punk rock pace in "Staff Sgt. Skreba." The only parts here that make me gag are the droning horns in "Votes & Violence" and the hideous sounding ballad, "You In My Heart." Sundown To Midnight is a fair progression from the band's Armageddon Massive debut. The production sounds a little wider, with more breathing room. The punk rock energy and distortion is used less here, in favor of more ska-influenced tunes like "Bullet Proof."
Other coverage for this album
7ball #26Reviewed by J. Edward KeyesAs the Christian ska fad lurches into its 14th minute of fame, it's easy to give plaudits to any band willing to position itself outside the skinny-tied juvenalia that has usually accompanied the late '90s brass-bound punk-in-sheep's clothing. On that note, Southern California's Dingees score beaucoup points: They are one of a dwindling number of outfits that eschew kiddie-humor lyrics while…