The Dahlmanns - Life in Reverse

On this first day of meteorological spring, The Dahlmanns have birthed something fresh and beautiful. Life in Reverse is their first full-length album in more than 14 years. It's part of a brilliant second act for one of my favorite bands. For nearly a month, I've been walking around like a grinning child who's fighting valiantly to hold on to a secret. I could not wait to write about this album! Now release day has arrived. The O.G. of punk rock zine bards has already weighed in, and I am delighted to spread the gospel!

The title Life in Reverse is shared with one of the songs on the album, but at a deeper level it reflects the theme of this LP. Andre and Line Dahlmann, joined by Magnus Gulbrandsen on guitar; Jan-Erik Hoel on bass; and Ole S. Nesset on drums, have taken a deep dive into all the music they've loved from their teen years to present day. If the last album, 2011's All Dahled Up, was a quintessential example of power pop by way of the Ramones, Life in Reverse is something else entirely. It's not quite what you were expecting from The Dahlmanns, yet it sounds absolutely like The Dahlmanns. This is music full of melody and life, and Line's voice has never sounded better. Having covered everyone from ABBA to Men Without Hats to Sylvain Sylvain to Suzi Quatro to Katrina and the Waves over the years, Andre and Line had already made it clear that their musical influences transcended one specific genre. And so Life in Reverse feels like a logical progression in The Dahlmanns' oeuvre. While certainly not a "power pop" record per se, it's a shining example of what great pop music ought to be.  

Kicking off with the 1-2 punch of last year's singles "Leatherboys" and "Dark Side with You," Life in Reverse quickly establishes itself as something quite different from The Dahlmanns. The former is a Detroit-inspired rocker that brings plenty of sleaze and stomp; the latter channels the spirit of Roky Erickson. From there, Side 1 of the album unfolds in a very pop-leaning way. "What's Inside a Mind" exudes gorgeous melancholy and chilly day sunshine. It's truly a perfect pop song. "Sandalwood" is pristine guitar pop operating at full maturity. The gentle "In the Dark" brings more laidback vibes, and then "Ride On" is the album's token shot of power pop by the book. After easing you into their evolved musical approach, The Dahlmanns really let their hair down on Side 2. On the scorching "From the Universe," the band flashes the action rock moves that are practically its birthright. "The Golden One" is full-on modern rock — a song that's moody and haunting yet undeniably powerful. The stunning title track is '80s-ish synth-pop with a modern Nordic indie pop twist. "Fire Fades" feels the like '90s with its bittersweet, heart-on-sleeve jangle. The extraordinary album closer "Old Ghosts Say" is all warm '70s breeze and sun-kissed melody — "A fjord twist on Laurel Canyon," as the venerable Mr. Hutton puts it. 

My personal history of writing about The Dahlmanns dates back nearly 15 years. This is my 14th occasion writing about this band, and it's a joy to observe that they've grown as much as I have since the dawn of the last decade. The 2011 version of me might have been taken aback by The Dahlmanns making a record like this. The current version of me wouldn't have it any other way. Do you really want a band to sound exactly the same when 14+ years of living life and absorbing new influences separate two albums? I get the sense that the band is expecting Life in Reverse to be a polarizing release. But I'm anticipating reviews and (more importantly) fan reactions to be almost universally positive. This is an extraordinary album. When it comes to songwriting, musicianship, production, and vocal performances, this record leaves everything else in The Dahlmanns' catalog in the dust. It's still close enough to power pop to appeal to longtime fans, but it doesn't need to limit itself in terms of musical style. I love hearing this band show that it can rock both harder and softer than expected — and break all sorts of new ground in the process. 

The Dahlmanns, in honoring some of the favorite artists of their lives, have made a record for people who love music. You can feel the love in these songs. And at a time when we need music more than ever as a retreat from the darkness of the world, Life in Reverse will take you to a place of joy and hope. It's available now from FABCOM! Records in the U.S.A. and Waterslide Records in Japan. European releases are coming soon!

-L.R.

https://thedahlmanns.bandcamp.com/album/life-in-reverse-album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN610rQDw7k&list=OLAK5uy_l_9xqKd7AE9-e1VYog0pI8JO9rCs6XiGg
https://www.fabcomrecords.com/ 
https://watersliderecords.bandcamp.com/album/life-in-reverse
https://www.facebook.com/thedahlmanns/
https://open.spotify.com/album/4TjZ4rBuqmWaQHmjNKyyyl

The Dahlmanns - "Dark Side with You"

Having promised a new album that won't necessarily conform to the classic power pop style they're so well known for, The Dahlmanns are here to give us another taste of what's soon to come. "Dark Side with You," the band's new single, is certainly the least "Dahlmanns-like" song it has ever released. But again, that's by no means a bad thing. As the title suggests, this is a darker (yet still powerful) pop sound — something not out of a character for a Scandinavian rock band. Line's vocal is dynamite and perfectly in tune with the emotion of the song. The hooks are undeniable, and how about that guitar solo! When Andre remarked, "Those expecting more of the same as our previous records may turn up their noses" in reference to the new album, he probably wasn't wrong. But I'm not so sure that most fans will insist on more of the same. The Dahlmanns did power pop by the book for a decade. Now they're writing a whole new book, and they are poised to surprise a lot of people — in an entirely good way. A band so many of us love is back and making excellent music. That's something to be excited about!

-L.R.

https://thedahlmanns.bandcamp.com/track/dark-side-with-you
https://open.spotify.com/album/6n9xZHhlaEjnoqrdNlNwiT
https://www.facebook.com/thedahlmanns/

The Dahlmanns - "Leatherboys"

What a glorious day it is: we have new music from The Dahlmanns! This is, of course, one of my favorite bands. The "Leatherboys" 7" is the first new release from Line and Andre since May of last year and the first single from their forthcoming album Life in Reverse (due out next year). The narrative around this single and album will likely be that this is not the same old Dahlmanns. Having been pretty much the quintessential power pop group for most of the 2010s, The Dahlmanns are now broadening their musical influences. The new album will be a reflection of everything they've listened to from their teen years to the present day and will thus be quite different from what people might be expecting. But if "Leatherboys" is any indication, that's not going to be a bad thing at all. And given how many cover songs The Dahlmanns have done, we're already used to the band tackling more than just power pop by the book. 

"Leatherboys" finds Line and Andre leaning into their love of old school punk and proto punk and the old Detroit sound in particular. Nods to The Stooges and Alice Cooper are more than palpable, and there's also a touch of the Rolling Stones in the mix as well. The lyrics were inspired by the images of the erotic artist Tom of Finland. So yeah, this is something new from The Dahlmanns. But ultimately, it still sounds like The Dahlmanns. Even when they take things in a harder and darker direction, they still turn out massively infectious hooks and bring the kind of energy that will make you want to dance. That pop heart of theirs will always be there. The B-side, exclusive to this single, is a cover of Prince's classic "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man." Line was a huge Prince fan in her early teen years, and she and Andre do an amazing rendition here of one his best pure pop songs. This track is certainly more "vintage" Dahlmanns than the A-side, but I must say I love both tracks. 

I'm excited to hear what this next iteration of The Dahlmanns will sound like. It has been over 15 years since the band first debuted, so it's only logical to expect a musical progression at this point. Meanwhile, their talent and charm are as remarkable as ever. "Leatherboys" is out on Plato Utrecht Records. It's available from Platomania (NL), Sonic Rendevouz (NL), Soundflat (GER), Sugar and Spice (FR), and Munster Records (SP). No Dahlmanns fan will be disappointed!

-L.R.

https://thedahlmanns.bandcamp.com/track/leatherboys
https://open.spotify.com/album/4s9OgApQNoW8d9E1eB5fn1
https://music.apple.com/us/album/leatherboys-single/1845690248
https://www.facebook.com/thedahlmanns/

The Dahlmanns/Tommy and The Rockets - Scandinavian Affair

It's always a great day when I can talk about The Dahlmanns! Scandinavian Affair, according to my most sophisticated calculations, is The Dahlmanns' 17th release. It's a split single that teams up Norway's favorite power (pop) couple with Tommy and the Rockets from Denmark. And it was co-released by a Swedish label! For this project both bands cover a song from the early '80s. The Dahlmanns contribute their version of "Party Girl" off of Rachel Sweet's third LP ...And Then He Kissed Me. On the flip, Tommy offers up his rendition of "You Don't Know What You've Got" from Joan Jett's 1980 debut album.

Superb choice in cover material has always been a strong suit for Andre and Line Dahlmann. They will often take a band and find a song of theirs that's just as great but not quite as known as the "big hits" (their version of Katrina and the Waves' "Do You Want Crying" is one of the most splendid things they've ever recorded!). And that's exactly what they've done here. "Party Girl" was by no means one of Rachel Sweet's highest charting singles, but in my book it's up there with her finest songs. The Dahlmanns manage to remain faithful to the girl group gone new wave style of the original without straight-up copying it. Line, as always, is remarkable on lead vocals. To pull off this song, you really have to convey a genuine tenderness and emotion. Line does just that - again showing that there's no better pure pop singer out there. The playing and production are exactly what you'd expect from a Dahlmanns recording: absolutely flawless. And if this track sends dozens of people in search of Rachel Sweet's old records, that will be a win for everyone (the uninitiated should start with this banger!). I have not checked in with Tommy and the Rockets in a number of years, but I've got to say that Tommy's version of "You Don't Know What You've Got" is really fantastic. He treats the song with his usual Beach Boys worship by way of the Ramones, and overall my impression of this track is that it fits perfectly in tandem with The Dahlmanns. In fact, this Scandinavian affair went so swimmingly that we all ought to demand a sequel! Get the 7" from Beluga Records and Ghost Highway Recordings!



-L.R.

https://belugarecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-dahlmanns-tommy-and-the-rockets-scandinavian-affair
https://tommyandtherockets.bandcamp.com/album/scandinavian-affair
https://www.facebook.com/thedahlmanns/
https://www.facebook.com/punkrecords.se/
https://www.facebook.com/GhostHighwayRecordings/

The Dahlmanns - American Heartbeat

Well this is just about the best idea ever! Take two of the all-time greats in Swedish rock n' roll in Bjôrne Frôberg (The Nomads) and Chips Kiesby (Sator). Have them write a mini-album together. And then get the almighty Dahlmanns to record it! That's essentially the story behind American Heartbeat. In name, it's a Dahlmanns record. In essence, it's the collaborative effort of a power pop dream team. I suppose that sets a very high bar for American Heartbeat, but of course it lives up to those expectations and then some!

Given that we usually get new music from The Dahlmanns in very small doses, six new songs at once feels like a tremendous gift. Frôberg and Kiesby have written a cohesive set of songs about the pain of lost love, and Line Dahlmann sure is the perfect person to sing them! She can inject a tune with the purest melancholy, and then she can turn around and and make a bummer love song sound totally upbeat. The result is a great mix of tender tearjerkers ("I Know You Want Me Back") and straight-up rockers ("Get It Right"). And then there's the title track, which is nothing short of power pop perfection. Of course the songwriting shines here, but the guitar work, arrangements, and production are equally majestic.

As always, The Dahlmanns leave us wanting more. But with a little help from their friends, they've given us a little more to chew on this time. Whether you're a fan of The Dahlmanns, Nomads, Sator, or (most likely) all of the above, American Heartbeat will fill you with delight. Get the vinyl from Beluga Records!



 -L.R.

https://belugarecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-dahlmanns-american-heartbeat 
https://www.facebook.com/thedahlmanns/ 
http://punkrecords.se/product/the-dahlmanns-american-heartbeat 
https://www.facebook.com/punkrecords.se 

The Dahlmanns/The Stanleys - split 7"

Any time we have the "best band in the world" conversation, The Dahlmanns have got to be in it. I can't name a single release from these Norwegian national treasures that I don't flat-out love. That very much continues with the band's latest release - a split 7" with Aussie power poppers The Stanleys. This is The Dahlmanns' third single on Beluga Records and whopping 11th overall.   

The Dahlmanns' contribution to this split is "Conny Converse" - which is nothing less than the total pop smash you would expect it to be. Line's voice is in lovely form as usual, and those harmonies are just so on-point. Top it all off with an absolute gem of a guitar solo, and you've got yourself a hit! It takes a truly formidable band to be able to hang with The Dahlmanns, and The Stanleys prove to be very much up to the task. They play an ultra-punchy, super high energy brand of power pop that's practically their birthright as Australians. Their contribution to this split, "Amy", sounds like a radio hit from a time when they still played radio hits on the radio. The song is also available on the band's brand-new debut album - which I plan to review in the very near future.

This Dahlmanns/Stanleys split is such a treat because it brings together two of the top bands in all of power pop. They sure make a perfect pair! Order the split directly from Beluga Records. "Conny Converse" is also available in digital form from Apple Music and Spotify! 



-L.R.

https://www.facebook.com/thedahlmanns/ 
https://thestanleysau.bandcamp.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/thestanleysau/ 
http://punkrecords.se/ 

The Dahlmanns + Andy Shernoff = Gold!

Let the record show that the very existence of The Dahlmanns was a major influence on the creation of this blog. And once the blog was created, I chose to name it after a song written by Andy Shernoff. So it goes without saying that I was elated to hear that The Dahlmanns have recorded two brand-new songs written by Andy Shernoff and released them as a single. Seriously: how can it get better than this? You've got the best pop band in the world collaborating with one of our greatest living songwriters. And the results do not disappoint!

In addition to co-writing "Forever My Baby", Shernoff also shares lead vocals with Line Dahlmann on this absolute gem of a track. This sort of boy/girl duet lamenting lost love is such an essential part of rock n' roll lore, but most modern examples are completely cringe-worthy. "Forever My Baby" gets it right, with believable vocal performances from both singers and a musical style that combines the conventional power ballad with elements of '60s girl groups. Shernoff's voice is in fine form, and there's little doubt that this song is the creation of the man who wrote and sang The Dictators' "Heartache". Staying with the '60s pop influence, "The Last Time" recalls the ringing melodies and romantic innocence of that golden era (but with a modern sheen). It's an absolutely beautiful song, and it's just so well suited to Line's voice. In the pop world, there's just no substitute for a memorable melody and a great singer!

"Forever My Baby" is out now on Pop Detective Records and available for download via iTunes, Spotify, CD Baby, etc. A vinyl version is due out this summer on The Next Big Thing - Lindsay Hutton's legendary zine/label which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. I'm not quite ready to say that this release is a mortal lock for 2017 single of the year. But, you know, it's gonna be a tough one to top!



-L.R.

https://www.facebook.com/thedahlmanns/
http://popdetective.com/

Summer of The Dahlmanns!

There are few things in life that make me happier than new music from The Dahlmanns. Their recordings are everything that the marriage of punk and pop could ever hope to be, and you might be less than human if the sound of Line's voice doesn't instantly make you feel good inside. I am delighted to report that there are two new singles from The Dahlmanns out for summer 2016, and of course they're the epitome of pop perfection. While The Dahlmanns did put out a fantastic album in 2012, they usually focus on singles. I actually like it that way - getting only small doses of the band allows me to savor every single track. Counting splits, these two new ones are Dahlmanns singles #8 and 9.

"Play It (On Repeat)" is out on Pop Detective Records - the band's seventh release on this particular label. It's available on CD EP as well as in the digital format via iTunes, CD Baby, etc. This song is what you might call classic Dahlmanns. The title says it all, doesn't it? I love the use of keyboards, and that hook is something else! This is the kind of tune that you wish they still played on the radio. It's paired with "Do You Want Crying" - a fantastic cover of the lead track off of Katrina and the Waves' second album. I'm a big fan of the original version, and I have to say I like The Dahlmanns' rendition just as much. One thing I've always appreciated about The Dahlmanns is the way they embrace cover songs. They always pick great material to cover and fully succeed at making it their own. In this version of  "Do You Want Crying", you can hear great respect for the original along with that special Dahlmanns touch. What a beautiful song!

Staying on the cover theme, Beluga Records has released The Dahlmanns' version of Suzi Quatro's 1977 hit "Tear Me Apart" as a vinyl single backed by the band's high-spirited rendition of the New York Dolls/Sylvain Sylvain classic "Teenage News". I love how The Dahlmanns put their stamp on "Tear Me Apart" - transforming this venerable Chapman/Chinn rocker into a sweet slice of country pop. "Teenage News" previously appeared as the B-side to limited editions of 2014's "He's A Drag" 7" on Ghost Highway Recordings. If you missed out last time, you get another shot at owning this stellar track on record. Beluga is releasing this 45 on green vinyl. Order a copy today!

I've literally been touting The Dahlmanns since day one of this blog. If you're already a fan, these new singles will not disappoint you. And if you're not yet a fan, do yourself a favor and go buy everything the band has ever released. All hail the royal couple of pop!



-L.R.

https://www.facebook.com/The-Dahlmanns-218701981476928/
https://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/TheDahlmanns
http://popdetective.com/
https://www.facebook.com/popdetectiverecords/
http://punkrecords.se/product/the-dahlmanns-tear-me-apart

New Dahlmanns goodies!

I have a special affection for The Dahlmanns because I reviewed them on the day this blog debuted: June 9, 2011. The group describes its sound as "mixing the Ramones with bubblegum, glam, and 60's girl band pop", and that's totally dead-on. Shockingly, it's been over three years since I last posted on this wonderful band out of Norway. Today I thought it would be nice to update you on a couple of new Dahlmanns releases that you should buy immediately. Ghost Highway Recordings has released the band's smash hit "He's A Drag" on vinyl. You may recall that this Kurt Baker-penned gem was a Coolest Song In The World last year on Little Steven's Underground Garage. It's now available as a 7" record backed by a fantastic cover of the New York Dolls' classic "Teenage News". It's limited to 250 hand-numbered copies, so move fast if you want one!

Also new from The Dahlmanns is a single on Pop Detective Records called "Girl Band". You can order it today from CD Baby. The A-side is an original song written by Michael Chaney from The New Trocaderos. One thing I've always respected about The Dahlmanns is that they have no objections to playing other people's songs. They are secure enough in their songwriting talents to not turn down opportunities to record amazing songs. Having already worked with incredible songwriters like Baker and Andy Shernoff, now they give one of Chaney's tunes the full-on Dahlmanns treatment. And, man, they totally kill it! "Girl Band" is exactly what you'd expect from a collaboration between The Dahlmanns and Michael Chaney: harmony-laden power pop rock n' roll with clever lyrics and a million dollar hook. Line delivers her usual outstanding vocal performance, and I like how the synths give the song an unmistakable '80s new wave feel. That sensibility continues with a super awesome cover of Men Without Hats' 1987 chart hit "Pop Goes The World" (ahh, high school memories!). I really like the original, but I love The Dahlmanns' version! 

Straight-up, The Dahlmanns are one of the best bands out there. Their music brings joy into the world, and they'd be huge if there were any justice. Check out these new singles along with everything else they've ever released! 



-L.R.

https://www.facebook.com/The-Dahlmanns-218701981476928/ 
https://ghosthighwayrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/the-dahlmanns 
https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thedahlmanns4 

1,2,3! Dahlmanns!

The Dahlmanns, I believe, are the first band to be reviewed three times on F & L. They should probably get some kind of award for this. I'm thinking maybe a large trophy or perhaps matching motorcycle jackets. How about a year's supply of premium bubblegum imported from the good old U.S.A.? I don't know - I'll have to consider the matter further. Dumb Me Down is the band's third CD EP on Pop Detective Records - the fine label run by my fellow native Pennsylvanian Mark Hershberger. If you're a hardcore Dahlmaniac, you probably already know the songs "Dumb Me Down" and "Go Getter" from the split 7" with Nikki Corvette. But if you're not, or you don't own a turntable, your ship has come in! The title track was written by Francis MacDonald (BMX Bandits, Eugenius, Teenage Fanclub). It's the latest in a long line of great covers by these Norwegian pop sensations, and it's a little different from the band's usual "if the Ramones each had a child with Blondie" pop/punk sound. Think more along the lines of the best Liz Phair song you ever heard. It's a great little pop song that once again affirms this band's considerable interpretative powers. Line's voice is in fine form, and the playing and production should serve as a model for any band that aspires to make this type of music. "Go Getter", on the other hand, is classic Dahlmanns - and one of the band's best songs yet! A la Nikki and the Corvettes, it's high energy power pop with a fun, rockin' feel. Oooh, I love this one! It's upbeat, catchy, and truly impossible to not love. The lyrics make me smile. Why in the world is it not a massive, multi million-selling hit? I really wish I knew.

The "bonus material" on this release consists of acoustic indie-pop versions of two Dahlmanns favorites - "I Want You Around" and "This Time". Sometimes with power pop bands, something crucial is lost when they go the "unplugged" route. But with The Dahlmanns, the stripped down approach accentuates just how talented they are in terms of their writing, vocals, and musicianship. If anything, the twee pop vibe makes Line's voice sound even prettier! Sure, I think we'd all like to hear some brand new material, but no doubt that's coming down the pike soon enough. And in the meantime, Dumb Me Down is a must-have whether you're a huge fan of the band or just a connoisseur of great guitar pop. It's one of the year's best EPs, but that goes without saying. It's the freaking Dahlmanns, man!



-L.R.

http://www.myspace.com/thedahlmanns
http://www.popdetective.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Dahlmanns/218701981476928

All Dahled Up!

Merry Christmas to me! The Dahlmanns album is out! Talk about joy to the world! If you bottled the feelgood powers of The Dahlmanns' music, that shit would fly off the shelves. Even Ebenezer Scrooge would have found himself smiling and dancing within the first 20 seconds of "Get Up, Get Down". The Grinch would have geeked out to "Teenage City". Norwegians do it right! 

Given my innate weakness for girl-fronted power pop and long-standing love of The Ramones, The Dahlmanns were destined to be Faster & Louder favorites. They were, in fact, the second band I ever reviewed on this blog. And in just a few weeks, I will officially award them my 2011 Song of the Year title for their flawless interpretation of Andy Shernoff’s "I Love You Baby (But I Hate Your Friends)". Here's what I love – that song isn't even on the album! They didn't need to pad their debut LP with a hit from months ago. Instead, they went out and wrote a whole slew of new hits! Andre Dahlmann, of the legendary Yum Yums, knows a thing or two about how to write a pop song. And his wife Line Cecile Dahlmann brings a sugar-rush of vocal exuberance that warms the soul like a Christmas cookie bender. Even when she's singing sad songs ("Love the Haters") or creepy ones ("Candypants"), you can't help feeling uplifted in spite of the lyrics. There's just a brightness to this band that is all prevailing. When Santa Claus gets the holiday blahs, this is the band he listens to to regain his good cheer. The big man loves his bubblegum punk!

While the new album does slow the pace in spots to explore more downbeat material, the results are absolutely golden. The jangly "This Time" is a sad love song with absolutely beautiful melodies, and it really demonstrates how pretty of a voice Line Cecile has. Think "Questioningly" by The Ramones with Frida from ABBA on vocals. Superb! And if the Dahlmanns are largely inspired by The Ramones and Primitives, the latter's influence is most palpable on the outstanding track "Going Down". The variety is nice! But I'd be lying if I said my favorite songs on the album weren't the more "classic" Dahlmanns type numbers. "Shake Me Up Tonight" is a stone cold hit. It's got everything: driving guitars, an unstoppably upbeat energy, harmonies out the wazoo, and infectious melodies oozing from every note! It ought to be a #1 single! And "Bright City Lights" might be even better. It's a perfect pop song with such an emotionally charged chorus that it seems it ought to be playing over the closing credits of a feelgood '80s movie! This, my friends, is POP! In an ideal world, "Teenage City" would be the album's third chart-topping single, and The Dahlmanns would perform it on network TV with a gazillion fans tuned in. 

Goody, goody gumdrops! The Dahlmanns have delivered! Especially down the homestretch, All Dahled Up is an invigorating, fun-filled ride that typifies everything power pop is supposed to be. I had been eagerly awaiting this album for many months, and after all that buildup it would have been easy to have found myself at least slightly disappointed. Am I? Not even a little! All Dahled Up is everything I expected and then some. If it's not quite Album of the Year, it's firmly top three. And that's saying something considering that 2011 has been one hell of a year for music! Now bring us some figgy pudding! 

-L.R.



http://www.myspace.com/thedahlmanns/music/albums/all-dahled-up-18136480
http://www.myspace.com/thedahlmanns
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dahlmanns/218701981476928

Pop go The Dahlmanns!

Featuring Andre Dahlmann of The Yum Yums on guitar/vocals and his wife Line Cecile Dahlmann on lead vocals, and boasting a signature song written by the great Andy Shernoff, Norway’s Dahlmanns could practically be considered a pop-punk supergroup. And if they’re not quite a supergroup, they’re at least a super group. The Shernoff-penned “I Love You Baby (But I Hate Your Friends)” is not just my favorite song of the year – it’s probably my favorite song of the past several years. Combining unabashed Ramones worship with the Euro-fied throwback power pop stylings of the Yum Yums, The Dahlmanns come off as perhaps the most upbeat sounding band on the planet. And what’s not to love about that? This band is all about high energy and big hooks and total fun – all the things you want in your summertime rock and roll! Line Cecile is a total natural on lead vocals - like a cross between Josie Cotton and a young Debbie Harry. Combine her charms with her husband’s command of classic power pop, and there’s just no way you can go wrong! If you’ve worn the grooves out of your Nikki and the Corvettes LP, this is the band for you.

The Dahlmanns’ latest EP – their second – comes on with two songs that would be #1 singles in my proverbial perfect world. “I Love You Baby (But I Hate Your Friends)”, on the strength of Shernoff’s master-crafted melodies and the band’s bright, buoyant delivery, rates as an instant classic of female-fronted power pop. If you don’t love it, there is something irreparably wrong with you. Right there with it is “Candypants”, a crunchy, driving number with a great chorus and an equally great lead vocal. “Smash You” tops off the EP in more of a rockin’ vein but switches seamlessly to a pop feel when the chorus hits. And that’s that – three songs, no filler, and you’re left wanting (much!) more. There’s a full album supposedly in the works, and I can’t imagine it disappointing given the band’s brief but flawless track record. Who wouldn’t want a half hour’s worth of Dahlmanns tuneage on hand for backyard barbeques and dance parties and Sunday housecleaning? But as a power pop guy, I do have a soft spot for music in the EP/singles format. So as long as they keep the killer singles comin’, I’ll be a happy camper. Great pop is all about that perfect three minutes – and it doesn’t get more perfect than “I Love You Baby (But I Hate Your Friends)”. If music is the best antidepressant, this is the premium stuff.

- L.R.

http://www.myspace.com/thedahlmanns