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Death from Above 1979

Heads Up (2002)
Ache / Last Gang

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

Contributed by: TylerK
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on January 27th 2009

If it were up to me, this EP would come with the following disclaimer:

"Warning: Use of this record may result in the listener finding themselves unable to enjoy any other music immediately after hearing. The following 13 and a half minutes are addicting, original, danceable and catchy. You may also find difficulty in removing these songs from your head, even when not actually listening to the compact disc. If symptoms persist, please consult the full length I'm a Woman, You're a Machine."

While this relatively short release is only comprised of six tracks, I have yet to find a flaw within it. It somehow manages to combine a gritty punk rock sound with some of the catchiest hooks I have ever heard. What you may not immediately pick up on with this band is that it only consists of two people: a bass player and a singing drummer. And the difference between DFA and other duos (the Black Keys, the White Stripes) is that every track is entertaining and manages to have a totally different feel. They somehow manage to expand on the drum and bass combo to create their own genre. Needless to say, if you were attempting to describe what this EP sounded like to someone else, you would have severe difficulty in finding a comparison to any other artist.

The opener "Dead Womb" segues from a creepy telling of the dangers of cocaine and kicks into a fast-paced attack, and it doesn't slow down a bit from here. Next is my personal favorite, the speedy and toe-tapping "Too Much Love." After this, the techno-style sounds of synthesizer lead into another two minutes and 30 seconds of what can only be described as blistering dance-punk with "Do it!" and it doesn't skip a beat from there.

I will conclude this review with the same simplicity that Heads Up delivers: If you are looking for something fresh, raw, energetic and also unbelievably good to go running to, then get a "heads up" on this record immediately.

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dfa1985 (January 31, 2009)

This is one of my favorite Canadian bands, it's tragic they broke up. They've still got some great merchandise available though online at http://www.killthe8.com/dfa1979/pages/617/index.html

tylerk (January 29, 2009)

You are correct, it's a transitive verb. I fail to see why that was worth commenting on.

mattramone (January 29, 2009)

"Addicting" is not an adjective.

allyeah (January 29, 2009)

Did you see these guys play Romantic Rights on Conan a few years back? Max jumped in for Sebastian on the drums to finish off the song, pretty fantastic.

tylerk (January 28, 2009)

Editorial Note: The full length is actually titled "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine". Since it seems to be so popular in the comment section, here's the review: http://www.punknews.org/review/3555

hotwaterbrogden (January 28, 2009)

Score is for you're a woman im a machine. Great album.

cheezitzzzzz (January 28, 2009)

One of my favorite bands ever. I had the chance to see them, they were a warm-up band to some show I was attending, but at the time (2004) I didn't know who DFA 1979 were, so I was in no rush to get there early and see them. Biggest mistake of my life. I got into them a few months later. Then they broke up.

red_eye_inc (January 28, 2009)

It's a shame these guys have gone on to be in a limp-dick acoustic folk band and a dj duo, because this shit rules.

RYANGP (January 28, 2009)

great band, although i think "You're A Woman" is a better album

sugarfull (January 28, 2009)

Is this the album with the Human Giant theme song on it?

Cos (January 28, 2009)

There's a b-side from the "Romantic Rights" EP/single called "We Don't Sleep At Night" that blows away everything on this EP.

I miss DFA79

Shark-e (January 27, 2009)

I cannot believe I didn't know this EP existed. You're a Woman has been one of my favorite records for years... Just downloaded this and it is incredible. Good review, and thanks for the... heads up....

hubitcherkokov (January 27, 2009)

Just heard this for the first time a few weeks ago - it's great. "Dead Womb" is so fucking catchy.

Torgo (January 27, 2009)

I haven't heard this, but score is for You're A Woman, I'm A Machine