By Null
The Black Dots are a Denver-based punk rock band that has been playing shows since at least 2011. They consist of April on bass and vocals, John on guitar and vocals, and Mike on drums. They are a great live band and wonderful human beings.
Punk rock has always been a necessity in my life. In my teen years, a Dead Kennedys or Alice Donut record was the salve that allowed me to navigate a world gone mad. Punk rock was the confirmation that there were others like me who believed a better world was possible.
Though I listen to a plethora of music genres and styles, I still need punk rock as a vaccination against the cynicism and doubt that seems to soak deeper and deeper into the fiber of my being as I get older. Punk rock is where one can still find joy and connection in acknowledging the world as it is and the possibilities of what it could be. This ethos is explicitly found in the opening song, “I’ve Had It,” on Black Dots’ latest full-length album, EP2/EP3. The song is a real contender for my favorite song of the year.
I’m packing up and I’m moving it along.
Or maybe I’ll just yell about it in another song.
(Yeah, your actions speak louder than words.)
I’m going to miss each and every one of you. Won’t you come along?
I’ll bring you two by two.
(Fuck yeah, climb on board and let’s go.)
This song is what I need to hear first thing in the morning just to get my head right. It’s like a splash of water in the face. Be the change you want to see in the world. Everyone is included.
We’ve got night callers and fair weather galore.
Past lovers, family members, and some more.
Ride or die, although I’m not sure what that really even means.
Not only do we trudge forward with punk rock ethos, but we must always keep humor in tow. As Emma Goldman famously said, “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be a part of your revolution.”
Get your climbing gear, we’re ascending to the top.
We can look down on everyone from our up high spot.
(Yeah, revel in the feeling of knowing you’re awesome!)
Got a cool breeze blowing and some quiet in the trees.
Campfire cookouts and our hearts are worn on our sleeves.
Those inside jokes that never need to be said.
We can stay here ‘til the work is old and dead.
Then head back down and rebuild it again.
Somehow, this song feels like the punk rock equivalent of Rush’s “Spirit of Radio” in its uplifting message. Retreat to the woods, build communities and relationships, heal, and return to the battle.
“I’ve Had It” and the second track, “Jumping Jesus on a Pogo Stick” actually appeared on a Flexidisc in 2022. However, on this full length, we get all of EP 2 on side one. “Jumping Jesus on a Pogo Stick” is another rockin’ track where we get the joy of hearing April’s powerful vocals combined with John’s. I love bands with two great singers. When John and April sing together, the magic is akin to John Doe and Exene of X.
All of side one of this album is an absolute barn burner. I highlighted “I’ve Had It,” because the songs that follow continue with the same melodic intensity and heartfelt lyrics. At one point during “Are We There Yet?,” John pleads, “How fucking hard is it? To find compassion past your own shit. Feigning ignorance will not cover it no more. Hoping for a return, to where we were before.” I can’t help but think of George Floyd and our continued struggle for racial justice while listening to this powerful song.
“Redeem” is another example of Black Dots dealing directly with the realities of self-doubt while addressing such harsh realities through the medium of uplifting melodies. The last track on side one, “Song That Shall Not be Named” is the bow that ties up the thematic continuity of side one.
Side one is cathartic and therapeutic, to say the least. It doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the world, but it also helps guide one through it with resilience and a shared human experience. If you tend to be an over-thinker and an empath, EP2 is your medicine.
Side two, or EP 3, has a slightly different tone than side one. All the great songwriting, melodies, and energy are present. However, the guitars are a bit more rounded and warmer. After the awakening of side one, this side allows the listener to sit back a bit for some toe tapping self-reflection. “Clean Your Room” asks questions of self-sabotage that make the heart swell. You don’t have to be perfect as long as you try. It’s a reminder we all need. As “Suck It Up Buttercup” reminds us, “My ego was the cause and it has derailed. Never succeeding where the hippies failed. Same traps, same speed, never filling the need.” The next song, “Tired of Dreaming” is full of rhythmic nuances while it complicates the question if we will ever feel like we are “enough.” Depending on the day you’ve had, this song can hit pretty hard.
The album ends with two songs reflecting on the fractal nature of a social structure and consensus built on social media algorithms. Here “information is questionable” and irrational conspiracy theories dominate the lexicon; yet the world’s real problems lay bare in the burning sun for all to see.
I could go deeper into the album, but I don’t want to steal the process of discovery from virgin ears. Go pick up the record and listen to it for a few days. You’ll find yourself in there.
With each new listen, the meaning of the lyrics hit on a deeper level; in addition, the nuances and interaction of the band members is revealed. The guitar leads come to light, the bass runs rise to the top, and the propulsion and placement of Mike’s drums are perfectly placed. These guys are masters of their craft and the EP2/EP3 LP is pure punk rock nutrition. Wake up, drink water, go for a walk, and listen to The Black Dots.
Discography:
EP1 “Songs” (2011)
Again & Again (full length, 2012)
Split 7” with Gentlemen Prefer Blood (2017)
Everything Has Gotta Change EP (2019)
EP2 Flexi-disc version (only 2 songs) (2022)
EP2/EP3 (full length, 2023)
Buy the record from Rabbit Rabbit Records at:
https://rabbitrabbitrecordspress.bigcartel.com/product/black-dots-ep2-ep3
Check out the Razorcake article on the Black Dots:
Black Dots are great. Love their songs. Thanks for sharing these reflections.
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