Album Reviews

- by Tom Dumarey

Upon seeing this Tampa, FL based band’s name, you could be mistaken for thinking they have a particularly strong dislike of a certain European mountain range, going even as far as to further emphasize the point by adding an exclamation mark. But the band name is actually pronounced ‘dee-alps’and if they have a dislike anything than it would be today’s political climate. Which happens to be one of the themes that ‘More Important Things’ is centered around along with contemporary views on depression, anxiety and marital struggles.

If all of this sounds kinda heavy, then rest assured... their music most definitely doesn’t. If anything, I would descibe their songs as breezy, highly contagious and never lacking power. Centered around husband and wife duo Cornelia and Frank Calcaterra, DieAlps!’ music can be found in the indie pop realm where they frequently bump into The Shins while also being influenced by all the greats of 90ies college rock. Opener ‘It’s The End’ is downright gorgeous, ‘Stride’ buzzes along nicely and ‘The Lesson Here’ sounds like a song Band Of Horses hasn’t gotten round to writing yet.

Elsewhere on the album, ‘Common Denominator’ is a great example of how good DieAlps! are at combining sweet melodies and loud guitars while showing off their softer side in ‘Satellites’. Whatever route they choose to travel down and no matter who takes a turn behind the mic, the end result is never short of beautiful.  

Track listing:

1. It's The End
2. Common Denominator
3. The Past Is All You've Seen
4. Again And Again
5. Satellites
6. In Color
7. Second Chance
8. Stride
9. The Lesson Here    
10. Lost In The Stars
11. Something To Lose
12. Shopping Carts
13. No More Words