Music Review: Too True

Dum Dum Girls
2.5/5 stars

“Why be good? Be beautiful and sad.” After two albums and four EPs, it seems as though Dum Dum Girls have finally come up with the ultimate summation of their goth-girl-meets-beach-pop aesthetic. It is a shame that this sentiment comes in the middle of “Too True,” easily their worst album to date.

On paper, “Too True” looks like a continuation of Dum Dum Girls’ formulaic yet pleasant earlier work. Lead singer Dee Dee Penny returns with veteran producer Richard Gottehrer, who is best known for his work with Blondie and The Go-Go’s. The entire album—and the majority of Dum Dum Girls’ music in general--covers that familiar ‘80s ground, but the arrangements are always mindlessly catchy, and Dee Dee once again shows off her wonderfully sultry vocals.

However, to the detriment of "Too True," the record marks a major departure from Dum Dum Girls’ earlier lo-fi sounds to a more streamlined yet less distinct production. Dee Dee and Gottehrer have largely eschewed the jangly surf rock and girl group harmonies of previous recordings. Unfortunately, much of the album is structured around nondescript ‘80s synthesizers, and Dee Dee is often stranded by vocal arrangements that simply cannot convey her sheer charisma. Songs like ‘Little Minx’ and ‘In the Wake of You’ blend together with little impact. Until now, Dum Dum Girls have created their best music by experimenting with lush waves of sound. Sonically, “Too True” often sounds thin and uninspired.

Dee Dee is as good of a singer as ever, but even she cannot save the trite, faux-philosophical lyrics of songs like 'Rimbaud Eyes' and 'Under These Hands.' There is not a song on this album that even comes close to the heartwrenching 'Lord Knows,' Dum Dum Girls’ career best song from the 2012 EP, "End of Daze." In comparison, most of the songs on "Too True" feel like emotional play-acting. However, that is not to say that the album is without some good songs. The album opener, 'Cult of Love,' is a catchy and sinister celebration of destructive love, and 'Lost Boys and Girls Club' is a beautifully hazy ode to Los Angeles nightlife.

Overall, "Too True" marks a new sonic progression for Dum Dum Girls yet a major step back from their previous work. While many of the band’s key elements are still present from early recordings, the album seems obsessed with style when it should have focused more on substance.