by Julian Mainprize

Who: The Dirtmitts
What: Melodic Alternative
Where: Vancouver, BC
To Contact: Sonic Unyon Recording Company, (905) 777-1223, www.sonicunyon.com.

Five years ago, Natasha Thirsk and Jennifer Deon decided to “Start taking their musical career seriously.” In October 2002, their band The Dirtmitts released its first full-length recording Get On on Sonic Unyon. It may have taken a while, but the result was worth the effort. The band professes their love for ‘a great song with a strong hook.’ One listen to their CD Get On confirms that that is exactly what this four-piece from Vancouver is all about. The Dirtmitts’ sound is a compliment of dominant guitar wash, sweet vocal harmonies, harmonically functional bass lines, and rock-solid drumming. Stylistically, parallels could be drawn between The Dirtmitts and a band like The Breeders, but these guys have something extra. While their music is not complex, its simplicity seems a choice, rather than a necessity. When Dave Genn [formerly of Matthew Good Band/Holly McNarland] and Tridon produced this recording, they clearly had this mind. They made the decision to continue to direct attention towards the songs themselves rather than individual musicianship, which is nonetheless strong. The reason Get On is such a good recording is because the compositions are strong and do shine in the spotlight. Probably the greatest testament to a well-written song is when the audience walks away humming. After hearing the title track on Get On for the first time, I had the melody in my head: “Stuck in the middle, I’m stuck in the middle…” It’s still stuck in my head.

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