photo by Shannon Claire

[Editor's note: This review previews Dude Won't Die's CD release show tonight at Knickerbockers with Time Hammer and Sound & Shape. The concert starts at 9 p.m., and the cover is $5. In interest of full transparency, Michael Todd, managing editor of Hear Nebraska, helped write lyrics to the EP's first song, "Useless Objects."]

If someone put Dude Won't Die's new self-titled EP on at a party and you heard it casually, you'd probably tap your foot and think, "This is a pretty solid and well-played local rock EP. Those solos are sexy, and the vocalist has great tone and pitch. I'll have to check this out later." Then, when you checked out it later, you'd realize that it is extremely weird.

The dudes in Dude Won't Die are obviously talented musicians with Geoff Ramsey on vocals, Samuel Segrist on rhythm guitar, Todd Rischling on lead guitar, Jason Martin-Tardy on bass and Scot Adams on drums. Their lyrics and arrangements, though, are unorthodox. Some of the songs are clearly jokes and deal with themes of hot pants and prison sex. Others are seemingly more tender and less absurd. The third track of five, "Amour Fou," is a love song that starts out about Central Park but ends up referencing GPS-mimes and Short Round from Indiana Jones. Also, there is a wah-wah phased-out guitar solo.

Perhaps the strangest moment happens during the last track, "Windowshopping." This bass-and-drums-driven rocker is plugging along, and there's a country-esque vocal scat-section that's been run through a P.A.-system effect. Right, so there's that. Then immediately afterward at 1:30, it turns into minimalist, dreamy porn music. That goes on for roughly two minutes, and then it jumps back into the rock song.

photo by Shannon Claire

Inexplicably, the porn jam is probably my favorite part of the entire EP. Oh, and then, in the very same song, there's an impressive slap-bass solo that leads into an equally impressive guitar solo. This, for one, showcases the immense chops of this band and secondly, adds to the self-aware ridiculousness of the record.

There are definitely moments rock 'n' roll honesty: It's not all puns and scatting. The second track "If I Died…" holds up as a vulnerable alternative pop gem: "And I hate to be the one to tell you this / What I gave you was much more than a friendly kiss." Tender, right? But then, a few songs later, the lyrics of the chorus in the fourth song are, "She's a bitch with a capital 'C.'" This is also the name of the song, so to be fair, I should have seen it coming.

Because the playing is so good, and because it's recorded so well, this EP is fun to listen to. More bass and guitar solos on this EP would have been welcomed, as they are the best part. If you're going to go over the top, go nuts, right? There's always next year, though.

photo by Shannon Claire

Also, because of the strange and often obscene lyrics, don't listen to this with your super-old-fashioned relatives from your mom's side of the family. You know, the ones who bought you the "Footprints" bookmark? Don't listen to this with them, or if you do, just yell whenever Ramsey starts singing.

Cory Kibler is a Hear Nebraska contributor. He is a sensitive yet confident man of many skills. His band, The Sleepover, is obsessed with catchy alternative rock. Reach him at coryk@hearnebraska.org.