Band: Secret Secret Dino Club
Album: Up To No Good
Genre: Pop-hop
Label: Unsigned
Tracks:
1. Wordup
2. Girlfriend Application
3. What’s Up Ladies?
4. Birthday Bash
5. Party Time
6. Dot Com
7. Get That Money
8. My Perfect Ending
9. Chickenheadz
Oh the things a compute, a pen, paper, guitar, and a creative mind can produce. Jayce Kalinkewicz, from New York has all these things and he’s put them to good use with his internet alter-ego and Myspace sensation – Secret Secret Dino Club. His unique mix of pop and lo-fi hip hop has a strange attraction to anyone who hears it and the latest EP, Up To No Good only works to prove this statement.
Starting with the very relax beat and flow of, “Wordup,” Jayce starts the album off with a near “under the big top” sound filled with simple, yet catchy lyrics. Kalinkewicz takes himself with a grain of salt [as you should] with lyrics like, “you think I’m a geologist, the way I rock your body.” One look at him and you can sense the, “I just want to give people a good time,” attitude that carries through the record. “Girlfriend Application,” expands the sound and raises the speed while keeping the depth light. It’s refreshing to find an artist who just lays out their thoughts and haves fun at the same time rather than taking one or the other. This becomes even more clear with, “What’s Up Ladies,” and, “Birthday Bash,” which even carries the line, “ain’t no party like a party with the Dino.” That pretty much sets the tone for the whole album and can capsulate the mood perfectly and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
As the record moves along, we come to the fan favorite, “Dot Com,” which references all the online social hotspots and even makes time to poke fun at the emo anthem, “Ohio is For Lovers,” by Hawthorne Heights. It’s all done with this relaxed swagger I’ve yet to find in any other artist out right now and that may be what stands out the most. This same attitude follows through on, “Get That Money,” as well. Jayce does throw a slight curveball with, “My Perfect Ending,” but its one you’ll welcome with open arms. This track keeps the not-so-serious lyrical style, but carries much more heart than the rest of the record. It’s obviously a love song and call out for the girl of Jayce’s dreams, but it could be applied to anyone’s life I’m sure. Following this gem is the solid, but laughable, “Chickenheadz,” which seems more like a bonus track than an actual album track. It doesn’t fit the sound of the record too much, but there’s no denying that it is indeed the Dino. It’s an alright closer, but was obviously intended for one last laugh as, “My Perfect Ending,” truly wraps the album in it’s closing bow.
In the end, Secret Secret Dino Club leaves us with a fun, light-hearted record that will surely be a hit with the teens, but leave their parents scratching their heads. There were multiple times when things felt a bit redundant, but there’s just something to it that keeps us here at UTG coming back for more. If you have the money, support this up and coming musician and be able to say you knew about him before he blew up because trust, it won’t be long before that happens.
*Written By: James Shotwell*
Grade: 7.5/10