The Crucial Conspiracy

After two previous full-length releases that sweated out the band's punk roots, the Dingees return with a disc that flaunts musical diversity. On The Crucial Conspiracy the band fuses the stylings of punk, reggae, and straightforward rock onto a delectable platter. On cuts like "Summertime" and "Christina Fights Back," the band plays with the throttle open. The songs are ignited by a driving snare and your basic guitar and bass mix, proving the band can excel at standard rock fare. Shifting gears, the Dingees embrace reggae like a pair of comfortable shoes. "Dear Sister, Dear Brother" is contagious as a funky organ vibe accentuates the apt guitar stylings of Aaron Lenders. The cut is a plea for unity, with a message the Dingees deliver well. In the same vibe, "We Rot the Voodoo" saunters into Jamaican territory. The song features bongos, a creepy organ, and a reggae guitar rhythm with vocalist Pegleg singing through a wall of effects that accent the tune's effectiveness. Broadening their horizons, the Dingees land on both feet with the alternative "Latch Key Kids." The cut proves to be one of the disc's best. Here whispering vocals along with clean, subdued guitars create a sonic ditty with relevant social lyrics. With this disc it's obvious the Dingees have matured musically and lyrically. On The Crucial Conspiracy, they mix a batch of musical ingredients that creates a filling stew of styles.