The Dials

"(The Dials) have no problem pulling the Ramones' greatest trick - taking two chords, infusing them with quasi-nonsensical lyrics and a sneer, and coming up with a great rock song..."

- Jaime Vazquez, Venus Magazine
- Venus Magazine

The Dials

A local girl band that plays sultry -- if not a little seedy and sleazy -- rock swamped by pronounced bass and keyboards, The Dials have the beginnings of something very fresh on their "Sick Times," a six-track EP released last year. I won't insult them by tossing about the various comparisons that every female-fronted band out there gets plastered with every time they pick up a guitar. Especially since the diversity of the record defies such convention. The record's title track, as well as the ending song "Dead Beat," smartly crank out a garage-ish power pop, with jagged guitars sharing equal limelight with acerbid but very girlie vocals. The previous four tracks, however, are more keyboard-centric, a little more aggressive, and much more chock full of catchier, slicker hooks. This is the kind of rock 'n' roll that translates exceptionally well -- especially in terms of energy and (wink wink) looks -- to the live stage.

-- Dave Chamberlain - Newcity

Vintage '60s girl-group pop meets nasty modern garage-rock on "Sick Times," the six-song debut EP by the Dials. The quartet is led by guitarist-vocalist Patti Gran and bassist-vocalist Rebecca Crawford, but my vote for MVP goes to Farfisa organ player Emily Dennison.


--Jim DeRogatis
May 21, 2004
- Chicago Sun-Times

"...this Chicago quartet combines garage and new-wave elements into a sound that refuses to be pinned down as merely referential or retro..."

- Monica Kendrick - Chicago Reader