Shapes Have Fangs
Dinner in the Dark (Reverberation Appreciation Society)
Reviewed by Audra Schroeder, Fri., April 8, 2011
Shapes Have Fangs
Dinner in the Dark (Reverberation Appreciation Society)When interviewed about his favorite album several years ago, Shapes Have Fangs singer/guitarist Dustin Coffey choosing 1965's Kinda Kinks spoke volumes about the group's garage rock. The local quartet's debut vinyl full-length still has some traces of that scent, but they've stretched out comfortably under the umbrella. Released on the Black Angels' label, Dinner in the Darks 11 songs have a distinct West Texas feel while remaining loyal to 1960s rock & roll. The opening title track and follow-up "Rattle and Confuse Me" set the tone, beyond which Shapes Have Fangs reach all sonic spectrums: rave up ("Ghost in the Mirror"), midtempo swagger ("The Desert Has a Place for You"), and languid blues instrumental ("Terlingua"). There are even spooky electro interludes, but they don't detract from the album's flow. Extra points for turning the sum of their influences into something distinctly Texas.
