The Dimes
Artist of the Day
Who? Johnny Clay (vocals/guitar), Pierre Kaiser (guitar/vocals), Ryan Johnston (bass/vocals/melodica) and Jake Rahner (drums/vocals) make up the lulling Portland, Oregon-bred pop act the Dimes. The band's debut full-length, The Silent Generation, drops this week via the Pet Marmoset label.
What's the Deal? Many songs on The Silent Generation are lyrically inspired by stacks of preserved Depression-era newspapers that Kaiser found under the old floors of his Portland home. Clay initially read the papers for fun, but found that the characters and situations he read about bled into his songwriting (which blends swirls of the Shins with the diversity of the Arcade Fire). The best example is the sparkling pop gem "Paul Kern Can't Sleep," the tale of a World War I vet who took a bullet to the head and lost the ability to sleep for 30 years. "Battle of San Jacinto" stands out as well, with its cascading guitars, sweet harmony vocals and Big Country-esque proportions.
Fun Fact: "Catch Me Jumping" is a true story about a friend of the Dimes, who once jumped from the top deck of a Navy ship into the Persian Gulf; restricted to a Naval base in Japan after the incident, the newly landlocked pal put together a Japanese tour for the band.
Now Hear This:
The Dimes - "Catch Me Jumping" DOWNLOAD MP3
On the Web:
The Dimes at MySpace
Talk: Can the Dimes add up to dollars through 'The Silent Generation'?
