Press for The Dynamo Theorem's Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

From the Buzz Magazine: 4.24.03 The Dynamo Theorem
Truth or Consequence, New Mexico
Innocent Words
**
By Andy Simnick
The Dynamo Theorem, a four-piece group from the Champaign-Urbana area, blurs the line between several musical genres on their new EP Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Though the four tracks have a unique blend that shows promise for future development, the music becomes a bit cumbersome by the end of the album.

The vocals are the most definitive part of the sound of The Dynamo Theorem. Donovan Foote’s drawl separates him from the growing pack of emo-core lead singers. Although he still needs to develop more control of his range, there is something about the vocals that is reminiscent of Matt Skiba’s earlier work. This is not to say that The Dynamo Theorem mirrors Alkaline Trio, but there is a certain cynicism in Foote’s voice that will trigger the connection.

Another distinctive feature of the CD is the sporadic trumpet use. The solos cut very well into the simple background guitar work and cause the music to seem much more flowing and natural. It is very rare for a band of this type to include any horns whatsoever, and even rarer for the horns to work this well.

Even though the vocals and horns mark the band, the guitar work is the Achilles heel of the EP. There is nothing technically wrong with the background riffs. The problem is that there is nothing new about them either. The power chords are lifted directly from Thursday, who in turn lifted them from numerous other bands. There is a sneaking ska riff that permeates the second and third tracks. At first it strikes the listener, but it quickly becomes too soft and repetitive to add value to the overall sound.

Despite coming on strong, The Dynamo Theorem needs to add variation to their repertoire. The local scene is cranking out more and more bands every day, and TDT have the talent to stay near the front of the pack. However, to keep gaining new listeners, their sound will have to keep people interested, especially after the emo scene dies down a bit. The band shows flashes of promise and will almost certainly show more as they develop their sound. Any group that can blend a horn with this slower style of punk rock will grow over time, and their full length, due out early next year, should do a better job of showcasing the potential of the band.