Suggested Listening: Double Dagger’s “More”

Baltimore’s Double Dagger is a ball of fire that freezes your hand, a warm embrace that punches you in the gut, an explosive puppy.  DD is a musical dichotomy that rages with punk and hardcore but tempered with experimental melodies and structure.  They’re known for intense live shows that overflow from basements and clubs throughout the surrounding lands.  I’m pretty sure after the release of More in May (via Thrill Jockey) there will be a lot more basements and clubs beckoning this trio to play.  More was recorded on the abandoned fifth floor of the building that currently houses the Current Gallery.  Powered by extension cords from the lower levels Denny (drums) and Bruce (bass) recorded More there between December 2008 and January 2009.  The end result is an album that is immediate, honest, and has the troublesome yet beautiful aspect of this city, Baltimore (the name More is a slice of Baltimore).  The ying and yang aspect of Double Dagger and Baltimore are painted all over the album – just look at the songs “Camouflage”, “The Lie/The Truth”, “Neon Gray”, “Two Way Mirror”, “Helicopter Lullaby”, and “Half-Life”.  Normally I would not enjoy a band that is this brash and loud, but Double Dagger have clearly put an intense amount of love and sweat into each song of More that it’s hard not to get wrapped up in them.  Be sure to catch their record release show at Floristree on May 22nd (Video Hippos, Air Waves, and Dream Neighbor will also perform).

mp3: Double Dagger – The Lie/The Truth

mp3: Double Dagger – No Allies (removed per request of Thrill Jockey) but you can stream it on their myspace or hypemachine

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1. Justen Listen: Double Dagger – Pillow Talk (mp3)

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