It is always
special when you get to experience a band for the first time by seeing them
live. That was the case with My Dear Disco. It was at the first ever Jamnesty festival held in the spring of my freshmen year at Stonehill. The band closed down
the first night with an incredible performance. As with many of the moments
that year, it just seemed to come out of nowhere and I was afforded the ability
to be fully present. I am happy to say I have a lot of snapshot memories from
the night. I can think back and put myself in the scene.
That night,
after they were done playing, I bought a CD from them and got two bumper
stickers. Needless to say that sticker went right on almost immediately and the CD joined the others in the car. It became part of the rotation for the summer
and still stays with me to this day. In fact, when I took my “final lap” around
St Andrews, in the midst of a rainy, raw night, I put this album on. I was
connecting a special memory from my freshmen year with an important moment from
my senior one. I like to think as almost bookends.
My reasoning for
putting the album on that night is the same one every time I chose to give a
listen: it is an album I am able to get engulfed in. I am drawn in by the opening “WhiteLies” a bold opener of over seven minutes, it serves to introduce all the parts
of the band. Together they build toward the second track “For Your Love”, more
of a blend of the different sounds, instruments and voices, and a little more
catchy and pop. From there the album spills out to a collection of songs that
do exactly what the title claims: dance and think.
I have always
been impressed by the choice to cover Stevie Wonder. They do a wonderful
rendition of “All I Do” and showoff an appreciation for what had come before
them, thus earning a lot respect in my book. It also helps that they own it and
make it sound like their own. Maybe one day, some band will be doing the same
with one of their songs.
After that, the
songs grow in length and a story is even told in two parts with “Madam Eon.” The
true gem of the album, the song that really crystalizes their style and their
mantra is "M.Y.F. (Move Your Feet)". It is an epic indie-electronic, dance smash,
lasting six and a half minutes. I have passed it along on countless mix CDs and
played it on a number of my radio shows in college. I hear it as the honest confession of
a young woman who is looking for a good time on her terms. I always took it
that I could have the same in my time in college, that I could dance and think
and that fortune would allow for both in the same moment. In many ways, this
album came at the perfect time.
Now the story of
My Dear Disco would not be complete without acknowledging the fact that they
are no more. After this release, they would change their name to Ella Riot and
release one more cd. Not much more was heard from/about them until 2013 when
the lead singer Michelle Chamuel competed on The Voice and began her solo
career.
For me, this
album is more than enough. It fills me with so much joy to hear it every time.
I am reminded of a night where I heard great music played live at a place I
love, a standard I hold for every concert going forward. I am reminded of the
possibility I felt at the close of my freshmen year and how happy it made me.
Once again, “dance and think”. Not a bad binary/expectation for a life going
forward.
