Review Summary: A welcome return
I fell in love with The Dangerous Summer when I first heard their full-length debut, Reach for the Sun, back in 2009. War Paint arrived in 2011 and 2013’s dark Golden Record followed before well documented band issues and family commitments lead to a nearly five year hiatus. Last July the new three-piece band announced their comeback (without Cody obviously) and would release their self-titled fourth album in January 2018.
The album opens with laidback candor in “Color”. Front man Aj Perdomo lyrics express the band’s negative past and his now mostly positive lifestyle with some introverted lyrics such as ‘it’s time to look after myself’. A mature start to the record which many of us can relate to as we get older: rather than lyrics such as drinking as much as he could at weekends (in his car) and wasting life away, he’s now a family man with responsibilities. The song gradually builds up before simmering nicely into the next and imo best track on the album “This Is Life”. It’s up there with the (probably most famous) TDS song ‘The Permanent Rain’. It starts off with some cool drumming and ends with sing along lyrics ‘do you remember me, like I remember you’. It has that classic TDS sound that we’ve all come to love.
Upbeat track “Fire” is a driving song that appreciates life on the road and the friends we make from school days to later in life. I can see myself playing this song loud in my car singing along when I go to see my mates for a few beers on a night out. TDS have always been a sincere rock band giving the listener quality sonic layers anchored by gritty, confessional vocals and this is again prevalent throughout the album.
“Ghosts” is a slightly religious power-ballad with lyrics such as ‘how I talk to god’. I love Aj’s gritty vocals on this one, although it’s one of the more boring tracks here. Next up downtempo lullaby “Luna”, it’s a song dedicated to AJ’s daughter whilst also about how ‘you are the architect of your own destiny’. The song glides along smoothly with a fresh serenity, it’s definetly their most laid back track to date.
The album slightly meanders around the mid-point into “Wild Again”. A gentle rock track with a couple of cool guitar solos by talented new lead guitarist Matt Kennedy. The following track “Valium” starts off in similar vein, before transitioning back and forth between calm/rock vibes providing emotional dynamism.
Another song about friends follows “When I Get Home”. Aj sings ‘I feel so lucky I could die, I feel so lucky I have this in my life’ about how his life has turned out with getting married, starting a family, having great friends, setting up home and getting his band being back together, albeit with new members. The drumming by Ben Cato is fantastic throughout; especially on this and This is Life.
Penultimate song “Live Forever” is an emo anthem. Aj sings about his friends in London (paying respect to similar bands they have toured with such as Deaf Havana, Moose Blood etc) and how he wants his fresh rejuvenated band to shine both on record and in a live environment.
The final song “Infinite” ends the self-titled collection slowly maturing again before building up with a nostalgic TDS sound with Aj shouting ‘I’ll go to sleep when I’m dead’ and finishing off with a great guitar solo. Throughout the album Aj gives every ounce of himself with passionate emotive lyrics.
This is their most personal album, which gives the listener a short journey into the life of The Dangerous Summer. Welcome back boys, we’ve missed you.
