Dirty Heads – SWIM TEAM
Dirty Heads are a band that is ever-changing with each album. They do not follow the universal rule of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Each album they have released has had a completely different feel from the previous release. They are not afraid to take risks and highlight their unique talents as a band. With the release of their sixth studio album, SWIM TEAM, the Dirty Heads exhibit their ability to incorporate hip hop, rock, reggae, dubstep and alternative all in one power house album. SWIM TEAM brings the band to an entirely new level.
When asked about the new album, the band has been quoted saying, “I think celebrating and being happy and living your life the way that you think that you should live it is definitely an underlying thing in this album. Celebration and happiness are underlying themes of who we are, and what we want our music to be.” In my opinion, that is the perfect way to describe SWIM TEAM. The album kicks off with Staloney, a calm intro song that pairs a slow strum of a guitar with snapping fingers in the background. What is great about this track is that it immediately throws the listener into the bands unique sound. They don’t need fast heavy guitar riffs or overbearing beats to make their presence felt. The chorus of the song states “you don’t know about me, you don’t know nothing,” foreshadowing the constantly changing sound throughout the entire album.
For anyone that has been following Dirty Heads from the beginning, it isn’t new that they have bounced back and forth from a heavily dominant hip hop sound to a more acoustic/reggae sound with not only each album, but each song on the album. High Tea (feat. Jordan Miller), track 2 on SWIM TEAM, is the perfect balance of both vibes that the band emanates.
Vacation, one of the singles from the album, is a song that sadly much of society can relate to. Many people go through life hating their job and being stuck in the same boring routine day after day. The song promotes the idea that you must live your own life and make the best of it. If you’re not happy with the direction your life is going, go out and be happy! It is your life to live and only you have the power to change it for the better. The chorus shouts (figuratively) “ay ay ay, I’m on vacation, every single day cuz I love my occupation, ay ay ay, I’m on vacation if you don’t like your life then you should go a change it.” The upbeat tempo of the song, along with the inspiring lyrics, will motivate anyone who is unhappy with their life to go out and make the change they want!
Vacation is followed by Celebrate (feat. The Unlikely Candidates). Celebrate is a slower song that allows the members of the band to speak to their family about the recent years and the commitment that comes with being in a successful band. “Mom if you can hear me I think I made it, 20,000 fans from the stage I’m standing on, I want you to know I appreciate it, one day I’ll come home, we can celebrate.” This song shows that the boys of Dirty Heads are no different than any of us. Sure, they may have musical talent that we could only dream of having, but they are still human beings. It is nice to hear a song that shows that they are still grounded and continue to keep family and friends as a top priority in their lives.
Diamonds & Pearls (my personal favorite song from the album) brings the album back into its style of radiating positivity. The sounds of bells and birds chirping in the background when the song begins immediately puts me in a good mood. The chorus states “they don’t understand what we’re living for, make ‘em understand life is beautiful,” another example of how the flow of the album focuses on a peaceful and joyous life.
SWIM TEAM is an 11 song album that packs a punch from start to finish. Dirty Heads once again proved that they can make an album the exact way that they want to and still hold true to their authentic sound and style. With features from Jordan Miller, The Unlikely Candidates and Nick Hexum (311 band member), the band exemplified their ability to collaborate with a range of different artists while sticking to their roots. I can’t wait to see what they release next! SWIM TEAM, along with all of Dirty Heads releases, are available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and Google Play.