Say it isn’t so. Debbie Gibson came back to release a rock album – the rockin’est yet – and it’s going platinum.
OK, kidding. But what if she did? What if Kelly Clarkson went punk? What if Avril Lavigne was actually any good? What if Coheed and Cambria, Jimmy Eat World or Alkaline Trio could be reincarnated as a la femme rock-your-socks five-piece equipped with powerful female singers, flawlessly rhythmic as well as harmonic guitar riffs, and combined it all with the delicate beauty of swaying bangs and silk vintage dresses?
Meg ‘ Dia. That’s what. And to further answer the preceding questions, look to Something Real, the band’s first official full-length album and certified success.
And why not? The sociological perspective on popular music cites six characteristics of pop songs. They are personal rather than collective or political. They’re catchy, formulaic and, in the same vein, aesthetically pleasing. They engage the listener, and to the disdain of most independent artists who would claim personal satisfaction over profit, they are mass-marketed.
Meg ‘ Dia’s album Something Real seemingly effortlessly slides into the pop canon. Sisters Meg and Dia Frampton, along with bandmates Nick Price (drums), Carlo Gimenez (guitar) and Jonathan Snyder (bass), scientifically compound their sounds of science and crack the code to singularly perfect pop.
To be formulaic isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It works. Every song is incredibly familiar, even upon first listen.
The market is simple. It’s been there all along, waiting to be rediscovered and replenished. Older fans may be refreshed after the slow fade-out of ’90s-tastic Letters to Cleo, wondering if anything else was left that could drive so much, with catchy riffs, complementary drums, simply gorgeous harmonies and melodies that command your attention and make you turn it up.
The album begins with "Monster," a definite eye-opening sensation following in the footsteps of so many other well-loved first tracks of the decade, such as Jimmy Eat World’s "Bleed American" or New Found Glory’s "All Downhill from Here."
The album has a tender side, though: sweet songs such as "Cardigan" and "Rebecca" are sure to win over hopeless romantics with light melodies, harmonies and a touch of piano.
The lyrics also have something to offer. Literature lovers would be glad to find a home in the all-inspired album by the Salt Lake City-based bookworms.
The album is heavily based on reflections of works by J.D. Sallinger, F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck.
The closely tied sisters have been making music together for years at the encouragement of their father, a former radio DJ in Korea, who once bought the two a guitar and karaoke machine for Christmas.
"Ever since I was 9, I knew I loved to sing," Dia Frampton said.
The rest is history, and the best is yet to come. Meg ‘ Dia are touring with ex-Blink-182 vocal-guitarist Tom Delonge’s Angels and Airwaves. The band has already headlined a stage at Warped Tour, and has a record deal and distribution help from Warner Bros. They might even have the next radio hit.
If you’ve been craving new music to jam loud in your car or practice your shower-time vocals, catch up with the act and read its tour diaries at www.meganddia.com.
Verdict: Perfect for jammin’ out on the road or in the shower.
