The Dictators - self titled

What do you say about one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands to ever walk the Earth releasing a genuinely fantastic album fifty plus years into its existence? You could say a lot of things, I suppose. I simply said, "Wow!" I would have been grateful just to have a new Dictators album at all, but the band's self-titled new long player (only its fifth studio album) has exceeded all expectations. It's way too soon for me to be saying it's as good as 2001's D.F.F.D. But if D.F.F.D was better than any record produced by a thirty-year-old band had a right to be, The Dictators is better than any record produced by a fifty-year-old band has a right to be. Quite literally, this is a new version of The Dictators. But sometimes fresh blood can pump new life into a band. Original members Andy Shernoff and Ross the Boss are joined by drummer Albert Bouchard (Blue Öyster Cult) and singer/guitarist Keith Roth (Frankenstein 3000) — forming a true powerhouse of a lineup.  

While The Dictators is a rock 'n' roll record made by senior citizens, it sure doesn't sound like it. Just about any band coming up in today's punk/rock 'n' roll scene would wish to make records this good. Andy Shernoff still writes the smartest, funniest, and most anthemic songs you could ever hope to hear. Ross the Boss is still an absolute monster on guitar. Bouchard is a legend in his own right. Roth (the "kid" of the band) is a glam punk lifer who was practically born to be a Dictator. I'd put the gleefully sardonic "Thank You and Have a Nice Day" up there with any of the band's classic songs. "My Imaginary Friend," which satirizes "cults, conspiracy theories and wacky religions," demonstrates that Shernoff's songwriting is as topical and spot-on as ever. Ditto for the hard-rocking "Sacred Cow." "God Damn New York" is both a love letter to The Dictators' home town and a scathing indictment of corporate interests that suck the soul out of everything they touch. "All About You" is vintage Dictators, and that can only be a good thing. On the other hand, the '60s-inspired garage rocker "Really Good" shows that The Dictators have some new tricks in their bag. "Sweet Joey," a loving tribute to Joey Ramone, is a powerful album closer and formidable addition to The Dictators' body of anthems. It cannot be denied, my friends: this band still has it!   

I chose to name this blog after a Dictators song not just because "Faster and Louder" sounded cool but more so because The Dictators have always represented to me what I love best in music: catchy three-chord rock 'n' roll that's highly intelligent without ever taking itself too seriously. Without trying to turn back the clock or copy past glories, The Dictators finds this band still embodying everything that's great about rock 'n' roll. If you're expecting this to be Bloodbrothers or D.F.F.D., you're barking up the wrong tree. But if you were just hoping that The Dictators had (at least!) another great album left in them, you will not be disappointed. Vinyl and CD are coming soon!

-L.R.

https://valleyentertainment.bandcamp.com/album/the-dictators
https://open.spotify.com/album/1gx7VDiylufkKOloLEpmNF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAqVXinS0W8&list=OLAK5uy_mZa0V9_Al-vNw6SwmYcc12tq-pPd-YQAI
https://www.thedictators.com/
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https://www.instagram.com/thedictatorsofficial