By – Kristi Houk

Recommended if you like:  The Beach Boys, Argent, Teenage Fanclub, Mo Troper

I wish you could read this review in baby pink bubble letters to really emphasize the poppy, bubblegum sound of Diners latest release Domino on Bar/None Records. Surely there’s an app for that.

Domino is so overwhelmingly positive, that I kind of want to throw up a little bit. But seriously, this is a fine power pop record and I am a complete sucker for jangly guitar hooks and smart vocal harmonies. 

The title track kicks off with a very McCartney guitar riff that would sit nicely along Drive My Car on Rubber Soul. It’s no surprise that band leader and Phoenix native, Blue Broderick moved to Los Angeles with all the sunny California vibes shining through on this album. You have to ask yourself if Diners is the next Beach Boys? Heavy words, I know, but the influence is there, particularly on the track, “Your Eyes Look Like Christmas” with its minor piano chords and plaintive lyrics. 

For me, the most fully realized song on the album is “The Power.” Broderick really pushes her vocal range here and it’s quite, uh, powerful. (sorry). It reminds me of the pop sweetness yet clever Teenage Fanclub.  The simplicity of the songs on Domino is misleading—upon a deep dive into the album, a witty, complexity emerges. There’s no pretense or fluff. Just smartly crafted pop songs – nothing more nothing less. Lyrically, there’s a wrestling between “getting it right” and just enjoying the ride.  And I think Broderick is doing just that.  

Stand Out Tracks: “The Power” “Domino” “Working On My Dreams”

You can Domino anywhere you buy quality music!

If you are in 205 you can buy this at SEASICK RECORDS!