Guy Grogan’s full length Dynamite Bouquet mines a simpler time for simpler songs; almost feeling like an attempt at bedroom necromancy, trying to resurrect the ‘90s on a budget. This isn’t an album concerned with changing any rules, rather it sounds like another effort (in a sea of similar efforts) to create a straightforward record of short, basic heart-on-sleeve indie rock songs capable of soundtracking cynicism-sinking crushes, whether they be in college towns or hip neighborhoods of major cities.
One of Grogan’s strengths is that he doesn’t seem to take himself too seriously, as evidenced by a playful pause on “Metafixation” and the album’s just-rolled-out-of-bed production. But this also lends to an overall weakness of the album with “My Own Way Out” opening the record like a soggy drunken punch on a miserable night, all muffled guitar fuzz, rattling drum echoes, and nasal vocal sneers that somehow simultaneously sound like they’re trying but also couldn’t really give a shit. You can use your prejudice to guess what kind of album Dynamite Bouquet is from the very first chords and Grogan does little over the album’s 10 tracks to break that judgment. If you like indie-rock-by-numbers, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You can almost see his collection of Guided by Voices records propped against the turntable or his fan photo posed in front of the Elliott Smith mural in Silverlake and each song makes that image clearer.
“Their constantly changing dynamism is part of what makes Dolores Haze such a captivating act to follow”- The Line Of Best Fit
“Dolores Haze have au aura about them, an un-f**kwithable attitude that makes them a force to be reckoned with”- Stereogum
“’Touch Me’ is a track that’ll effectively plunge you into the middle of your very own imaginary montage”- Noisey
Swedish music is unstoppable nowadays… Producing world-class acts after acts, from Lykke Li, Icona Pop and Robyn, it’s no surprise their latest addition, in the shape of Dolores Haze, brings top quality yet again. After hitting festivals such as End of the Road and Latitude Festivals this summer Dolores Haze is finally back with an irresistible emotional track to enter the dancefloor of rock clubs.