Release Date: (September 24, 2010)
Label: International City

December Hotel
Overall Rating:  +++-

(Still On The Move)

The Dingees' Rebel Soul Sound System is an album with the weight of the planet on its shoulders. This is the most global-sounding album the band have ever released, and the most slowed down, filled with sound. It's also the most political work by the socially conscious band yet, as the nine years since the Dingees last album have only seen the state of the world grow worse. That's not to say that Rebel Soul Sound System is a downer. It's just as fun as The Dingees' previous releases. The album just feels heavier.

Dissonance is a major element adding up to this weight. The Dingees' have never layered this many sounds atop each other: guitars, bass, drums, percussion, horns played both conventionally and unconventionally (and not just trombones or saxophones--also flutes, clarinets, flugle horns, etc.), music and voice samples, multiple keyboards, organ, electronics, and multiple vocals of both sex. With this much going on, the band lose most of their dirtier punk edge (but not all, and certainly not in attitude), but increase the reggae influence, and pick up some hip-hop and drum n' bass tones. What results is a thick, internationally flavored stew of an album that flows steady and unstoppably through musical streets as graffiti-drenched as its cover.

The weight of time is upon this album, as well. The samples and horns especially give Rebel Soul Sound System a both timeless and timely feeling, as if it represents the oppressed throughout history.

Overall, the Rebel Soul Sound System isn't really what one would expect from a Dingees' release, but it's an extremely satisfying album, and like all of the band's work, sounds like no one else. Who else has nine minute songs in whatever genre this is?

~Nicholas