Late Music

Dennis Diken | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 29, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cryptovision
• ASIN: B002KLALVA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #212,412 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OK, put Ringo Starr, Keith Moon, and Dennis Wilson into a blender ..., October 21, 2009

By 

Tom E. DeShovelle - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Late Music (Audio CD)

... oh come on, you know the rest .... short version is "out comes Dennis Diken".

The walking pop-music-encyclopedia (he wrote some of the best liner notes for his band, the Smithereens, and many others) delivers a top-notch solo effort. While there's only a touch of the patented ringing guitar sound of the Smithereens, the spotlight on DD's vocals makes this one a treasure that should be heard beyond the valley of the 'Reens fans. There's a surprisingly strong leaning toward '60's California vocal sound (think Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, Four Freshmenn, etc) with a modern production sound to keep things sounding original rather than derivative.

Diken's partner, multi-instrumentalist Pete DiBella is a veteran of the NJ music scene, known for his local band DuoPhonic. Their combined pop-sensibilities blend delightfully.

Absolutely recommended listening.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars British Invasion, `60s California pop and more from Smithereens drummer, September 29, 2009

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Late Music (Audio CD)

As the drummer for the Smithereens, Dennis Diken's taken both a figurative and literal backseat to the songwriting and singing of Pat DiNizio. But Diken's a drummer with a lot of melody in him, as his first solo album so amply shows. Paired with multi-instrumentalist Pete DiBella, Diken not only keeps time but sings most of the leads and backgrounds and co-wrote all thirteen of these throwback pop tunes. Diken draws from the same mid-60s millieu as DiNizio's Beatle-esque songs for the Smithereens, but he leans more heavily on the mod sounds of the Creation and the Who, the pre-orchestral Moody Blues, the California beach sounds of Gary Usher, the harmonies of the Beach Boys, Raspberries, and Association, and the studio production of Brian Wilson.

The Brian Wilson motifs are particularly striking on the questioning "Standing in Line," which could pass for a long-lost Pet Sounds outtake were it not an original composition. The pleading "Fall Into Your Arms" and alluring "Temptation Cake" further echo the Beach Boys, but also the jazz harmonies from which Brian Wilson drew inspiration. Diken takes inspiration from the Who's "Bucket T" with the full-kit drumming and power harmonies of "Long Lonely Ride," and the insistent bass and slashing guitar chords of "The Sun's Gonna Shine in the Morning" are pure UK freakbeat. Diken and DiBella offer up the good time vibe of the Lovin' Spoonful, by way of Vince Guaraldi's "Cast Your Fate to the Wind," on "Let Your Loved One Sleep" and they dabble in breezy Brazilian easy listening on "Lost Bird."

The ballads seem more modern on the surface, but are laced with vintage totems of mellotron, electric sitar, French horn, harpsichord, and a variety of electric pianos and organs, suggesting long-lost album tracks by the Electric Prunes. Guest appearances by Andy Paley, Jason Falkner, members of Brian Wilson's backing band, the Wondermints, and Wilson's one time side project, the Honeys, are complemented by lesser-known (but no less talented) figures of the retro pop scene, including one-time Optic Nerve keyboardist Dave Amels, producer/musician Andrew Sandoval, and Los Angeles drummer Nelson Bragg. That Diken can sing is no shock to Smithereens fans, but the completeness of his vision as a singer, songwriter and bandleader is a welcome surprise. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LATE MUSIC is the BEST RECORD OF 2009, February 28, 2010

By 

JC - See all my reviews

This review is from: Late Music (MP3 Download)

I DJ a show that spotlights Indie musicians and their music. And, I've listened to Late Music Over and Over again.

This Album is THE BEST RECORD OF 2009.

Some bands that I hear when listening to this great record are
The Stone Roses (YES! THE STONE ROSES...and, I'm not the only one that hears it!), The Lovin Spoonful, Shocking Blue, The Zombies, The WHO, The Monkees, Paul Revere and the Raiders and many others, but, what I'm saying here is that I really enjoy this record and it ranks right in there with these other bands I've mentioned.

If you like/love music from the 1960s and 1970s, with great harmonies and vocals and music....this record is it for you. You dont need to sit listening to the Classic Rock Station and hear 'Suite Judy Blue Eyes' for the 5,842,204th time.

Get the LATE MUSIC Disc and enjoy it from the 1st song to the last.

I'm not the only one giving this record a big thumbs up - MANY people are.

"Yes, IT'S THAT GOOD!"

Thanks for Reading.