Dirty Heads

Any Port in a Storm

EMG/Universal

(Dirty Heads MySpace)

While there has been a few false starts, there is no doubting that the Dirty Heads are the most exciting band emerging out of the reggae-hip hop-rock scene right now. The band is the complete package, effortlessly walking the tightrope between commercial corn and too fresh for its own good. Any Port in a Storm feels familiar, yet also incredibly inventive.

Those fortunate enough to have picked up the limited edition Sails to the Wind EP, got a tantalizing preview of the full-length, as all those songs are represented here again. However, when the summer style reggae of Stand Tall and Easy is so good - the songs themselves prove they never get old.

The more newer songs represented here like Shine, Believe and Knows That I build from the band’s original raw stripped down acoustic sound and are taken to a more mature song-writing level. It doesn’t hurt either when you have one of the world’s best drummers playing with you on the track (Knows That I) in Josh Freese.

All old school fans take heart, the boys haven’t completely grown up as there is still plenty of Duddy B and Dirty J's cheeky rhymes and youthful spirit leaping through the tracks. There is also no missing the Godzilla-like monster beats as demonstrated on the live favorite Morning Light, the Beastie Boy inspired anthem Check the Level and the Dirty J special solo delivered Hip Hop Misfits. Easily, the hardest hitting original hip hop I have heard since Eminem’s Lose Yourself.

At the end of the day it may be near impossible for the Dirty Heads to find peaceful refuge in any port. As the band’s personality flows strongly through the music and its live shows – and what it reveals is the Dirty Heads ARE the storm and one worth getting swept away in.

Reviewed by Pilipo