Location:
Canada, Alberta

Category:
Rock

Try if you like:
Joel Plaskett, Land Of Talk, The Balconies, The Sheepdogs, Yukon Blonde

The Dudes are a Calgary Alberta band and one of the best one's we've got going right now. The band have been around since 1996 but it was their last album, Brain Heart Guitar that got them down the road of national notoriety. They've got a new album out now on Load Records called Blood. Guts. Bruises. Cuts. Before you run away screaming punk or metal, hear me out. The Dudes are rock. You might even consider them as pop with some of their songs. Let's just say catchy rock for now, and not even that hard. Hell, you even hear twang in their music every once and a while like on "Small Mercies". Not enough to warrant any more than a passing glance.

I feel like the Dudes could use a little more balls from time to time. I can tell they've got the potential to really rock out. Listen to "Connected" or their lead single "Pretty Lies" and I think you'll agree. They are good songs but they could have turned it up and started moving slightly faster and heavier. Maybe the band is going for radio friendly. These tracks are definitely that, in fact I've heard "Pretty Lies" a few times on a local station. But then again The Dudes do quite well on their mid-tempo tracks such as "Not S'posed to Call". There are some nice switch ups in this one.

There is a cool duet of sorts called "Had Enough Of It" featuring fellow Calgarian Lisa Lobsinger, now with Broken Social Scene. Fairly upbeat and yet still really accessible. I found Dan's voice one of the best parts of the Dudes. That and the fact that Blood is one of the best produced albums to come out of Calgary. The only reason I give this a 4.5 instead of a 5 is that I felt it could have used a little more aggression and speed. Yup, balls. But I find myself returning to Blood Guts Bruises Cuts time and time again. There is enough diversity here to warrant repeat listens. Nice to hear this from a Calgary band.