Boston's DIMESTORE HALOES are yet another name to add to the list of bands that burned out way too soon. Though a punk band at heart, they were in actuality so much more. Formed by guitarist/vocalist Chaz Matthews in 1994, they plugged away for nine years before personal issues pulled the band apart. During that time, though, they wrote some damn catchy songs, and with influences ranging from glam to rockabilly, they could appeal to fans of THE CLASH to DEAD BOYS to T. REX and beyond. Their swansong, "The Ghosts of Saturday Night", is a collection of their final recordings and, most importantly, a showcase for rock and roll at its purest and most fun.

As the liner notes suggest, these guys were able to attract a fairly wide range of folks in their local scene with their pop punk melodies while maintaining enough rough edge for the hardcore fans. This, as the listener soon learns, is the essence of "The Ghosts of Saturday Night". From the opening of "Black Glitter Baby Doll", the HALOES grab a hold of the listener with carefully crafted riffs and vintage production. Throughout the album, the slightly-off vocal harmonies, hand claps and sporadic piano plinks help keep the good times a-rolling. For extra variety, Chaz gives up lead vocal duty on "Care Too Less" and "Adore Me" to multi-instrumentalist Kevin Mess and drummer Jimmy Reject respectively. Other album highlights include the coming-of-age anthem "Hot Pink Stereo" and the particularly melodic toe-tapper "Poison Rose" (check out that sweet intro of police sirens and guitar string pop "gunshots"!).

One could hypothesize for hours why these guys didn't make it further than they did, or whether or not they'd be more successful in a different time period. It hardly matters, because this reviewer for one believes that the DIMESTORE HALOES have what it takes to stand the test of time and be revered for years to come. "The Ghosts of Saturday Night" is a great way to keep the memory of a great band alive, and in particular the memory of drummer Jimmy Reject, who, sadly, took his own life in 2006. So come on already - make this album the soundtrack to your next party!

- Cardona

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/thedimestorehaloes

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