By Divine Right

(Kinetic)
by Sheril Stanford

By Divine Right is a Toronto-based band completely obsessed with bodily functions. While there is something to be said for shitting and fucking, don’t make the mistake of thinking that’s all there is to this band. Once you stop reading about them and start listening to their music, you find there is more, much more. Indeed, BDR counts among its many fine attributes quirky, witty lyrics, swoozy vocal harmonies, crunchy, buzzy guitars and vocals by Jose Contreras that give classic rocker Joe Walsh a run for his money. Let’s start with those witty lyrics. Let’s see, the first track, called “Stretch,” is about a classic ’70s rubbery toy doll that you could stretch out until it was an inch wide and about three feet long. In the song, the toy is a metaphor for, umm, something. Guitars? This disc is guitar heavy, complete with a short solo in the retro-sounding “Downtown” and on “Microwaves,” a similarly recycled-but-fresh tune, the guitar is dreamy, shimmery and just short of psychedelic. And, a contender for both the “witty lyrics” and “great guitar” categories is a tune called “Billie’s Holiday,” which features (appropriately enough) blues influenced yet fuzzed up guitar.

Also to its credit, By Divine Right samples, yes, “Star Trek” (and yes, you’ll be able to tell who it is, but no, you can’t tell which episode). Anyway, get the disc; you’ll like their music better than their interviews.