Dropsonic: VI

"Losing Streak" For more than a decade critics and fans, friends and foes alike have lampooned Dropsonic for its affinity for all things Led Zeppelin. Even the name of their sixth album, lovingly titled VI, is a groan-worthy nod to Led Zeppelin’s IV — the group’s stab at taking the piss out of such unrelenting, but not unfounded claims. Interestingly, Droso sheds the Zoso worship with this vinyl-only offering, at least for side A. But by even going there with the album’s title, the group reveals a jaded quality that leaves a definite mark on the music.

?
Who could blame these guys for being just a little jaded after slugging it out for so many years and never consummating a reliable record deal? “Losing Streak” is the album’s opener, which shows off a spacious and aggressive approach to the their trademark rock and roll stylings, and settles on a distinct, but hard-to-embrace sound. There are elements of gritty indie rock at work here, but there’s also cut-and-dry major label alternative rock songwriting as well; the latter of which smooths out the compelling jagged edges. They’re not Mission of Burma, but they’re not quite Alice in Chains either. Rather they fall somewhere in between, and the chemistry throughout VI is top-notch. But their pursuit of the perfect sound leaves no room for spontaneity, tension or any kind of work-a-day emotion at all. The rhythms are quick and guided by chugging guitars with an emphasis on melody that Dropsonic hasn’t ever really pushed this hard, which helps gain a lot of mileage for this record.

?
But there’s also a sense of sane, competent passion in Dixon’s voice. Unrestrained honesty of this stature generally goes a long way when it’s got at least a few frayed ends of sanity unraveling in the tumult. But here every note, every riff and every lyric is arranged by-the-book.