I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first play the debut album, May You Never…, from Dastardly. The band name conjured up some darker images, but the album cover felt jazz or ballroom influenced. I was pleasantly surprised when "Villain" kicked in with it’s mellow-folk based indie rock tones. However, the darker images did ring true through out tracks like "Exercises in Self-Loathing" and "Creepy". This is not an upbeat album, but it is a perfect example of a sound that is becoming increasing popular in Chicago, Americana. It is a genre title that bothers me because there are so many sounds coming from American bands and to call a sound Americana is some what limiting.
Dastardly takes this genre and makes it their own through adding elements of blues and folk. My favorite track with gentle ballad "Morning Blue" with vocals be Sarah Morgan. The six-piece band has two vocalist and they take turns taking the lead through out the album. This track also features a haunting pedal steel performance, and a surprising ending. This is a well produced debut. The album was engineered at Gallery of Carpet Studios by Brian Zieske (Bailiff, Pet Lions, Secret Colours) and mixed by Paul Klimson (The Roots, John Legend). Dastardly may be one of the brightest newcomers to the scene this year.
Dastardly will be celebrating the release of their debut album on December 9th at Schubas with Glittermouse, Chaperone, and Jared Bartman.