“Dance in My Blood”
from the album Men, Women & Children
2006
iTunes
Mixing disco beats (check those heavy hi-hat and hand claps) with angry, noisy guitars and a chorus that borders on the inane (“You don’t need a reason/ To get out on the dancefloor/ And we can get it on and on/ All night long”), Men, Women & Children are nothing if not eye (or, rather, ear) catching.
While the chorus is a simplistic yet effective call to arms, a statement of intent for a promising young band if ever there was one, the song is also awash with subtle touches that make it an intriguing listen, with all manner of synth treatments, 1970s strings and a wailing backing vocal that runs throughout and gets more prominent towards the song’s close. Their jagged guitars puts them squarely within the modern disco-punk set, which is no surprise when you consider that they have toured with the demi-gods of the genre, Gang of Four.
The melting pot of styles adopted by the band leads to many varying comparisons; their funk-based grooves are shared by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, their disco beats recall Scissor Sisters, while the youthful exuberance and razor-sharp guitars have much in common with emo kings Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco. There is a sense of fun in vocalist T.J. Penzone’s voice, which lends itself well to the clarion call of the chorus, and the song doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously. A welcome distraction.