(Single from album, "Language. Sex. Violence. Other?")
After two predominantly acoustic albums, the Stereophonics launched this, an electric, indie explosion of pure, legendary English songwriting on us, the unsuspecting bored public, listening out way through 2005's feeble offerings like brain-dead cattle. It was the perfect comeback. In every way...
The band's first UK #1, "Dakota" opens with a tremolo synthesiser wave, and explodes into being at about 0:15, with a bass line that powers the track like the pistons of a steam train, and a drum track that sounds like a gallant sprint across a light electric heaven; ok, lots of metaphors there, but what the hey - I just love this track too much!
Instrumentally, "Dakota" flits between a heavy, aggressive, indie-rock sound and a more mellow, Travis style, keyboard driven guitar kind of noise, with an overriding sense of electronic sonic synthesis between. However, it strikes the perfect balance. The lead guitar noodles in that typical British kind of pop meander. Behind, it manages to weave in and around Jonny Greenwood-esque style for the verses and end up at the wild bash of the Manic Street Preachers for the chorus. Its explosive to say the least - and loud. But very accomplished in its brash quality and like...I don't know...classical meets punk?
The lyrics aren't anything special, but the phrasing is genius, and the vocal melody is great, the main hook of the song being the result of the singing, rather than the looping keys and guitars. Its just your average love song really, but the vocal pattern is superb, and perhaps, the most noteworthy aspect of the track; put it this way - its definitely the bit you'll be humming in your head, all day, over and over, and over, and over, and over, and over....
And at almost 5 minutes in length, the track, strangely, doesn't even begin to feel laboured either; you could genuinely listen to this oddly polished indie scrawl forever, and that infectious backing synth really ups the whole game. It gives the track a really warm atmosphere, and that epic lead...well...its got a hell of lot of emotion to it; this track really feels like an outpour - an effort - from every part of the unit. That's what makes it so damned cool!
This is just one of the quick reviews from me; you must however, hear this for yourself. Go on. It'll make you dance like a mad man, but you'll know inside, its a quality track...
★★★★★
Versions of “Dakota”
Album Version - 4:58
Radio Edit - 4:01
Footswitch Rework - 4:01