[Introducing] – Dozens

One of the great things about Chicago’s Dozens (other than the fact that they’re from Chicago) is their ability to surprise. And on the band’s latest 7” single, “Sounds Of Your Lovers”, Dozens show that they’re damn good at it. In less than ten minutes the trio go from assorted beeps and bloops to a looping synth to a hard-hitting chorus (come on, listen to the song again and tell me you’re not singing along the next time around) and back (the A-side) and then throw a curve ball with a chillwave-on-steroids rendition of The Sugarcubes‘ (Björk‘s old band) “Birthday” (the B-side).

Having listened to the band’s previous work, their “Dozens EP” - which you can still listen to – the changes made for this new offering are all welcome ones. On the title track of the new single, elements slowly come together to form the full song, something that’s been done time and time again, but the order in which the band makes that happen keeps things interesting. With only a sparse bass synth and a sparkling lead synth melody, the vocals come in and only a few bars after, completely unexpectedly and in the middle of a vocal line, the drums roll in. The song continues to build from here, adding more synths and some vocal interplay which becomes one of the track’s highlights. It’s interesting to hear the falsetto relegated to back up on the verses but hitting full force in the chorus. The fact that all three members of the band are listed as vocalists does nothing but help to create the fantastic vocal interplay, which, although a small detail, definitely brings something interesting and fresh to the table.

As huge-sounding as “Sounds Of Your Lovers” is, the band demonstrate that they also know how to take things down a notch (but only a notch) on the single’s flip-side. Some might call it a defect, but, for me, any band that can take a song that’s pretty rough around the edges and almost impossible to sing along to (Björk’s “oh’s” in the chorus aren’t very user-friendly), polish it a little and make it sound current and their own while still maintaining the original’s essence, is definitely worth receiving a pat on the back (Dozens, if you’re reading this, here’s an internet pat on the back).

Their cover of “Birthday” also demonstrates a band with serious balls. Most young bands (these guys have been together for only a couple of years, since 2009) would stick to easy fits; songs that they can easily change up and get them some blog love. Dozens goes above and beyond the requirement, making a 15 year-old song sound current again with glossy synths and smoothed out “oh’s” as the main hook (sorry, Björk, these are easier to sing). These guys have picked up tricks from the best, listing Michael Jackson (bouncy synths and huge choruses), Aphex Twin (this one’s got me scratching my head a bit, but I guess it adds to the element of surprise I mentioned earlier), Fleetwood Mac, and The Temptations (I’m guessing these last two vocally), among others, as influences.

Keep Dozens on your radar. If these two latest songs are any indication, they’re bound to be doing great things soon. Be sure to check out “Sounds Of Your Lovers”, and download “Birthday” and “Arrest Yourself” (from their previous EP), below.

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Sounds Of Your Lovers by Dozens

Dozens – Birthday (The Sugarcubes Cover)
Dozens – Arrest Yourself