I think UK’s music scene is still as exciting as it has ever been. Over the last few years, we’ve seen new alternative rock bands emerge, showcasing fresh perspectives in music – ones that we haven’t heard before.

I was quite eager to get hold of Dinosaur Pile-Up’s music when it was recommended to me. I’ve been hearing some buzz about the band and wanted to find out what they had to offer.

The band originated from Leed, and is headed by Matt Bigland. Bigland writes all of the band’s songs and records it on an 8-track recorder.  This DIY philosophy is pretty evident in how raw some of the songs can get. Don’t get me wrong though, the roughness adds to the songs’ overall appeal.

I listened to the band’s EP a few times, modestly titled The Most Powerful EP in the Universe, which contains five tracks. The opener ‘Summer Hit Single’ made it apparent why the band has been compared to Weezer. The power riffs and sweet melodies bottled in a goofy package is a classic Weezer formula that the band has co-opted quite successfully. The whole record was what you would expect from lo-fi indie rock bands. At some point I realized that this is a UK band that sounds so much like an American band. I guess Bigland openly wears his influence on his sleeves.

Though the band’s lo-fi sound is not disappointing, their five-song EP is not a cohesive effort. The first two songs sound quite different from the last three songs, which I think are the strongest tracks here. As an EP, it may be because these songs were written during different periods in the band’s life. I miss the kind of seamless cohesion of EPs like the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s debut, which is a marvel of maturity and precision. I think the strongest song in Dinosaur Pile-Up’s offerings is the last one – ‘Beach Bug.’ Here’s hoping that this is the sound that they are headed for.

Rating: 3/5

- Mel Panabi

Link:www.myspace.com/dinosaurpileup