CD Reviews

Diamond Rings | Free Dimensional

Astralwerks (2012)

By RYAN REED | October 18, 2012

2.5 Stars

"Love is a drug, and it's the only one I'm dealing," raps gender-bending synth-pop siren John O'Regan deep into his sophomore album. He ain't kidding: over the course of these 10 glitzy, '80s-tailored jams, the rising Toronto native blends blooming love, fading love, and forgotten love into a guilty-pleasure stew that's far too genuine to taste stale. Everything about Free Dimensional is cheesy — from the mousey bedroom beats to the predictable synth lines to O'Regan's (hard) Soft Cell vocal delivery to the awkward, bumbling raps. Regardless, several songs are stunning. "Hold my hand and take me to/the secret place where dreams come true before they exist," O'Regan croons on "All the Time," bobbing over synths so fruity you could use them as an air-freshener. On closer "Day & Night," he launches into a 1-2-buckle-my-shoe rhyme scheme that blurs the line between obnoxious and adorable. Campiness is rarely — if ever — this sweet.

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Topics: CD Reviews , Entertainment, Music, synth-pop, More

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