Dirty Americans - 'Strange Generation'
                                                                                                                                                        Released through Liquor & Poker on March 22, 2005
THE BAND:
Myron - vocals
 Jeff Piper - guitars
Pete Bever - bass
Jermiah Pilbeam - drums


TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) "No Rest" - This song opens with the effect of someone plugging a electric guitar into an amplifier.  The musical intro was done with bass and guitar along with a drum pattern being played on just the toms and snare.  The intro section was arranged very similar to the kiss song "I" which was on the very overlooked 1981 classic kiss album "The Elder".  Connecting the intro section to the first verse there is about three or four bars of music where Jeff kicks in and plays the main guitar rhythm of the song, while the rest of the band takes a small break. The vocal lines of the verse where recorded to were they have a very soft sound to them.  The band changes the rhythm arrangement of the chorus sections and gives the song an almost Buckcherry feel.  The breakdown musical section the song has is the only one that would have worked with this song.  During the breakdown there are several lead guitar licks, but not enough of them to consider it an actual guitar solo.  There lead guitar licks run underneath the last chorus section.
2.) "Car Crash" - The intro to this track consists of a very seventies influence guitar arrangement along with a very small vocal section.  In the fashion the guitar arrangement along with the vocal lines of the verse are set up and recorded gives the song a very Lenny Kravitz feel.  In fact, if I did not know any better I could swear it was a Lenny Kravitz's cover song.  During the verse the backing vocals are done using the same vocal section as the intro.  After the second chorus the band break the song down in such away that it changes the dynamics of the song.  After the breakdown section there is a very small guitar solo. 
3.) "Strange Generation" -  This is the first single taken of the release.  After listening to the guitar hook of the intro one can see why they chose this song to be the first single.  In a lot of way the verse is very reminiscent of Buckcherry's first single.  Laced in between the vocal lines of the verse are little backing vocal sections.  in between the first verse and first chorus Jeff changes the guitar rhythm, which changes the structure of the song just a little.  Through the chorus you can hear a small tambourine piece.  The solo for this song suited the arrangement very well and has influences from seventies rock 'n' roll.    
4.) "Burn You Down" - The guitar intro for this track had a very distinct sound to it.  Leading into the first verse there is a very small lead guitar riff.  The little lead guitar riffs that are scattered throughout the verse sections have a Lenny Kravitz feel to them.  Pete wrote a huge bass line for this song.  The band has several different musical influences and they all bleed through on this song.  The guitar solo was done with an effects pedal. 
5.) "Time In Space" - This track opens with a very simple laid back guitar arrangement.  The vocal lines of the verses have a melancholy feel to them.  The drum patterns of the verse were done with just the tom-toms.  The band change they rhythm of the song during the choruses.  I really liked how Jeff arranged the two different guitar arrangement through the chorus section.  In the fashion the band arranged this song gives the song a huge hook.  The lead guitar solo was very laid back and relaxed sounding.    
6.) "Give It Up" - This track opens with a very seventies influence guitar arrangement.  At times the main guitar riffs of the verse have a very intense feel to them.  The drums and bass on this track lock into a solid groove.  After the first chorus the band drastically change the dynamics of the song by incorporating a acoustic guitar arrangement.  The small solo section was very influenced from seventies rock.
7.) "Dead Man" - This track opens with a guitar arrangement and effects pedal.  There is a very cool bass liner on this track that bleeds through the verses.  At times the song has a whole borders along the lines of being abstract.  The breakdown section of the song was very influenced of Jimmy Page and led Zeppelin.  The way the guitar solo was recorded made it very under shadowed by the rhythm section.  through it is not really a guitar solo parse just a few lead guitar licks.   
8.) "Control" - This track opens with a blues influenced guitar arrangement along with a very short lead guitar riff.  At times the lyric lines have a Lenny Kravitz feel but also at the same time have a psychedelic sixties feel at the same time. There is a musical arrangement right before the guitar solo where both Jeff and Pete are playing the same arrangement.  The song swings back and forth between two different planes of musical style.  This shows great songwriting!!
9.) "Dead End" -This track opens with a acoustic guitar arrangement that was influenced by Jimmy Page.  The vocals lines of the pre-verse where turned down just a little and causes the backing music to almost overshadow the vocals.  Underneath the first chorus there is a small lead guitar scale.  In the fashion the vocal lines where sung and the guitar arrangement was laid out gives this song a very Coverdale/Page feel.  After the first chorus there is a small percussion section. 
10.) "Way To Go" - This track opens with a very intense guitar arrangement.  The vocals of the song where done using a small effects pedal in the production stage of the recording.  The vocal lines of the choruses where very influenced from seventies rock.  During the breakdown section there are a few lead guitar licks but not really enough of them to consider it a guitar solo. 
11.) "Light-Headed" - This track opens with a late seventies early eighties guitar arrangement.  There is a very cool bass line running underneath the verse section.  Jeff changes the rhythm guitar arrangement for the chorus section.  The solo Jeff wrote for this song suited the song very well.  In fact I don't know if any other solo would have worked. 
12.) "Chico" - This track opens with a drum arrangement.  Jeff kicks the guitar in for the second half of the intro.  The vocal lines of the verses are laced with influences of the seventies with a little Smithereens mixed in.  There is a small vocal effect before the choruses of the song.  This song was screaming for a guitar solo.
13.) "We Were Young" - This ballad opens with an acoustic guitar arrangement.  The bass lines was turned up causing the song to have a real heavy sound.  This is another song off the release where the vocals are very influenced from the seventies.  Laced in between the vocal lines of the verses are little lead guitar riffs. 

    Even though this is just the second release from the Dirty Americans the band already sound like seasoned professional songwriters.  On "Strange Generation" the band was able to take bits and pieces from every major rock band from the seventies and create their own sound.  The only thing I was real surprised by was the fact that some of the songs have no guitar solo's.  With that being said Jeff's guitar work is strong enough that you really don't notice.  It is just very unusual in this day and time.  The CD is enhanced and includes the video for the band's single "Strange Generation".  If you are into classic seventies style rock or bands like Lenny Kravitz and Buckcherry then you probably will like Dirty Americans and should check the CD out.