Dreams Gone Sour is lead singer/songwriter Steven Deal's most ambitious album yet. Deal, formerly of Chopper, is the heart and soul behind Connecticut's The Absolute Zeros, and with this release, he expands his college/garage roots with sharply written tracks and smart melodic twists. Guitarist/Vocalist and ex-Chopper mate Nick Appleby joins Deal with new recruits Evan Gamm on Bass and Paul Tascione on Drums. Deal's work in Chopper was already admired for its heady hooks and stylish production, winning fans at Alternative Press, Aquarian Weekly, New York Press, Magnet, Ink 19, B-Side, The Big Takeover, and more. The Absolute Zeros now build upon Chopper's strong legacy with this slice of Buzzcocks revivalism masked by killer Who chords and Steven Deal's insouciant delivery.
Dreams Gone Sour includes a snarky ode to Tiger Beat magazine, the anti-love songs "Not Think About You" and "I Wish I Were Dead," and other glimpses of The Absolute Zeros' quirky wit and original vision. The Absolute Zeros are at their best here, mixing their sixties Small Faces-style delivery, layering it among a proto-punk rhythm section, and peppering it with sonic surprises (Farsifa organ? Rickenbacker solo? Slide whistle?) This all ties up into one very cleverly produced package, with the accurate and dry moniker Dreams Gone Sour proclaiming The Absolute Zeros' wonderfully wicked world view.
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