Review: Dino DiMuro - Sleeping Highway

Some very catchy power poppy songs here, with a lot of quirk!

The beginning is rather deceptive, as 'Introduction' carries a propaganda style Cold War warning! 'My Other Marriage' is the first real track, and is very catchy with witty lyrics, with Dino's lilting voice appealing. 'The Lady Of The House' is a song with a neat arrangement, sweet guitars, and a chaotic jam session at the end. It's also interspersed with some dating audio profiles, and I would have picked Julie too! 'Highway Patrolled By Aircraft' is bouncy, musically, but lyrically has Big Brother concerns, Elvis sounding backing vocals (!), and an inspired psychedelic cum PiL finish.

'Morley Street @ Dusk' starts off with a beautiful piece of piano and guitar, but ends eccentrically abruptly, which is irritating! Teasers. There's a classic there, fellas. 'Gerard Wrote Tears Of A Clown' is magnificent. It's very inventive, with a made up story about the famous Smokey Robinson & The Miracles song.

'My Name Is Print' is a gentle, offbeat track, and the 1982 song 'What RU Doing In My Life?' is a lively rocker, with strong language, good guitar work, and a nice, unexpected, mood change. This is followed by 'Don't Do What?', with what sounds like Julie talking about Dino's dodgy habits! Then it's something very different - 'Fuzzy Grandpa', co-written by Dino with the obviously talented John Gibson. It's already become one of my favourite 'underground' songs, and it's probably the best granddad song ever! It's moving and funny at the same time, and the old boy can still play, cranking it up, producing great licks at 90 years of age. Depressingly, I'm now old enough to be a grandfather, and just picking up an electric guitar is an effort for me these days! Some of 'em are heavy, you know. 'Regrets' is a melancholy end to the album, with wistful lyrics.

'Sleeping Highway' is of a consistently high standard right the way through, and there's no bombast here, which makes the whole thing good fun.

- Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.

This album is $8 postpaid to the USA. International is $10 postpaid. Available from: LONELY WHISTLE MUSIC, PO Box 9162, Santa Rosa, CA 95405, U.S.A.

Don Campau has been a long-time supporter of underground/alternative artists, through his appropriately titled 'No Pigeonholes' show on KKUP radio in California, and his Lonely Whistle Music label.

Don is an accomplished artist himself, and his 1986 album, 'Paralyzed By The Very Thought', was a notable example of his talents.

Here, Don explains what his website is all about:

"The World Of Underground Music and Radio
This site is dedicated to the music of people outside of the music industry, people doing weird, experimental sounds or just personal expression for the love of it. It is about people making contact with other people and not about "product" being pushed. CDs can be purchased but they can also be traded and contact with the artist is direct. Below, you will find links to various underground and home recording projects. Discover the world outside of the mainstream."

Find out more here:
http://www.doncampau.com/

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