Purr

Dance Hall Crashers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 24, 1999)
• Original Release Date: August 24, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Pink & Black Records
• ASIN: B00000JS10
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,264 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #65 in Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > Ska

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DHC's best yet..., January 10, 2000

By 

I Hate Amazon "contributor" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Purr (Audio CD)

Yep, you heard me--their best. Also their shortest, excluding eps and such (it's a little over 30 minutes long), but basically what that means is that there is no filler. It is a tight album with tight songs in true punk fashion. For me, Honey I'm Homely seemed like a little experiment in expansion, as if they were trying on different hats to see how they fit, and the end results weren't always successful. Purr, on the other hand, seems almost a return to their roots (minus a prominent horn section), a more fitting follow up to the superb Lockjaw album. Their lyrics here are their strongest yet, particularly the songs in which Karina takes the reins...as much as I love Elise, I think Karina is a more versatile singer and--if she writes her own lyrics--a better writer since her style is more narrative and includes more concrete detail (lines such as her description of a water pistol from Chinatown: "A pink dragon with light blue horns that shoots a stream of water from its mouth like fire.")

Like all their records, this album has great energy and a real positive vibe about it, but in their lyrics they seem to tackle self-indulgence as well as certain social issues with a sneer, particularly chiding the shallowness of vanity ("Beverly Kills", "Do You Think You're Beautiful", etc.)

The band is, as always (and to repeat myself), a tightly coiled unit, a rhythm monster whose drive just keeps getting stronger and stronger. Jason's guitar work is sharper and crisper than ever, Mikey's bass lays a funkadelic foundation that adds dimension without simply following the lead, and Gavin's percussion is increasing in intricacy while remaining rock steady as always.

And of course I would be remiss if I didn't mention the acoustic ballad ("Cricket") which sounds so sweet it borders on the saccharine, but redeems itself with lines like, "Hold your breath and pretend that you're already dead." It's almost a lullaby, one of those great tunes that makes you feel less alone instead of more so--a capper to one of the best albums of the year.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Dance Hall Crahsers CD Yet!, July 20, 2000

By 

Persian (San Francisco, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Purr (Audio CD)

While DHC has never brought out a disappointing CD, "Purr" is definitely better than the rest. Their incredible mixture of pop and punk music has created a CD that is impossible to put down. "Purr" is a must have!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars super duper cd, May 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Purr (Audio CD)

ok folks, if you wanna buy a cd, this is the one! it's fantastic.. the lyrics, vocals, drums, and guitar really come together and it sounds great. they've shown such improvement from the good ol days of the Old Record. the songs are more melodic and Karina and Elyse harmonize terrificly. this is the kind of cd you just wanna sing along to .. .so much in fact, that my throat hurts from beltin out the tunes..(and don't worry, lyrics are included in the bookie thing). this is a really great cd, and a definite must-buy.