Album Review: Spazzys - Dumb Is Forever

The Spazzys have been stuck in legal limbo for more than six years, which is why this follow-up to 2004's Aloha! Go Bananas has taken so long to hit shelves. Despite the long gestation period, the band haven't messed too much with their Ramones meets Ronettes formula.

Opener, Understand, is instantly infectious, with a slower tempo than the majority of their debut, saccharine vocal harmonies, rudimentary-yet-catchy riffs and percussive claps that morph into applause at the song's conclusion. Unfortunately, the wittiest aspect of lead single, Dissolution (Is The Only Solution), is its title, and although it's pleasant enough, the underdeveloped lyrics (“We were standing on a cliff and we rolled a spliff/then we rode our horses off the cliff”) quickly wear thin. The distortion-heavy Creep fares better, as does the harmony-laden What's Your Story. Love = Pain is a standout, with a welcome shift of tempo and some wittier lyrical content (“So back to the refrain/And try to abstain/Because love equals pain”) and the sunny Best Waves Ever is equally likeable. The uncharacteristically down-tempo Try My Love proves the Spazzys are not just a one-trick pony, before the bratty Makin' Trash reminds us that they can still pack a punch. Maybe is another highlight, and in this instance the simplicity of the lyrics work in the band's favour.  Don't Say Goodnight showcases Kat, Ally and Lucy's vocal harmonies better than any other song on this collection, before the album ends on a high note with the quick one-two of I Want A Divorce and Doctor Doctor. 

The Spazzys might not be reinventing the wheel, or even their own sound, but it's nice to have them back.