Dallas Crane opened the recent Jack Awards ceremony with Dirty Hearts, their catchy current single. It represented one of the hardest tasks possible for a band; to walk onto a cold stage in front of a pensive audience and perform for the cameras; one chance at glory. It took them about 2 seconds to hit 100% intensity. It was that moment that turned me into a fan of the band and in a time of fairly lacklustre releases, Dallas Crane's self-titled LP has lifted my spirits again. This is an album that screams 'Oz Rock!' That means the riffs are edgy (Wrong Party), choruses are powered by gripping hooks (Iodine) and the band know how to infuse their licks with a honky-tonk groove (Can't Work You Out) which reminds me of my formative years, hugging a transistor radio, absorbing the music of AC/DC, Ted Mulry Gang and Billy Thorpe. In true TMG style, Dallas Crane is an act that thrives on having a broad scope, careful to write wistful ballads, blues-ridden grooves, as well as the staple diet: gritty rock that only sounds correct when heard at a filthy pub. Dallas Crane, with this album, has set a standard for the ridiculous amount of new rockers hoping to achieve success, and their advantage is blindingly obvious; they really mean it. Yep, it doesn't sound like one riff or word or beat is contrived. And thanks to this album, I just realised that almost every other new rock band is simply bulls**ting. With songs like Numb All Over (my new favourite), Dallas Crane are ready to steal the new rock mantle from current pretenders; a 'changing of the guard' that will be welcome at Whammo.

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Tracklisting
1 DIRTY HEARTS
2 IODINE
3 CANT WORK YOU OUT
4 UNLUCKY STAR
5 OPEN TO CLOSE
6 WRONG PARTY
7 COME CLEAN
8 NUMB ALL OVER
9 UNDER THE MOON
10 WANNABE
11 OUT IN SPACE
12 LADYBIRD
13 COME AND GO
14 ALRIGHT BY ME

Full listing of DALLAS CRANE releases