CD Review: Dios (Malos) – Dios (Malos)

Formed in 2002, this band from Hawthorne, CA is one of the many indie rock bands bursting onto mainstream radio. Dios (Malos) creates varied melodic tunes, ranging from the emotionally spending “Say Anything” to the carefree promoting “So Do I.” The band’s sound is its appeal, mostly for the lack of any real doppelganger – pre or post Dios. The beach folk of “No Dance Now” or to the childish melodies of “I Feel Fine All The Time” reminds of nerd rock legends They Might Be Giants or indie pop band Fountains Of Wayne. Some of the tracks can be owed to the California landscape and state of mind, with more beach and ocean inspired melodies of “Tokyo Sunrise” and “Goin’ Home.”

Dios does venture into more alternative sounds. The most mature sounding song is the Neil Young-esque “My Broken Bones” with its simplistic composition and lush vocals. Although nothing is too rock sounding, the band tries its hands at British pop rock with the Starsailor-like “I’m Only Daydreaming.” What the band offers is a somewhat original package – California music that doesn’t like traditional California music, neither resembling Rock & Roll legends The Beach Boys (Hawthorne, CA natives also) or even more contemporary California rockers Goldfinger. The music both converges to and diverges from the sounds of existing bands; the band’s results would be for you to decide.