The Dirty Blue has captured their postmodern moment in time well, on an expressive palette that rocks, and at the end of the day, it’s the rock that counts.

The Dirty Blue’s Out of the Blue Sessions plays like cinematic pub rock from the western edge of the universe. The sound is a juxtaposition of frigid Eurotrash vocals and round, warm ‘70s rock sounds. The sound is listenable, but just a little bit foreboding - from the opening spaceship sounds and clangy guitar chords of the “Prologue” and into the jaunty, almost spacey rock of “Wake Up Call.” The spy-rock guitar intro of “Sometimes” draws you into the jangly Suede meets 1990s R.E.M. anthem only to drop you off in the cowboy la-la land of the “Out of the Blue Theme.” “Opiumatic Nobodies” is gritty alt-rock w/ a little bit of wiggle in its back beat. It’s like angst you can dance to – but not in a Franz Ferdinand kinda way. It might be a bit camp, but it’s cool. Just listen to the squiggly guitars and get down. Pretty piano stuff jolts you outta party mode for a bit when you get to the dreamy “Black Cats and Broken Mirrors.” “Everything to Lose” is power-poppy ditty with uplifting harmonized vocals and a swanky little guitar melody. It’s touching and not at all sappy. The final track “So, So Sad” is a brit-pop stomp with some great guitar licks, a big driving sound, and one hell of a catchy chorus. Good stuff. In short, the Dirty Blue provide some old fashioned with a future twist. It’s not quite retro, but it isn’t slick and modern either. Out of the Blue Sessions is the sound of guys making journeyman rock and pop with skill and dedication.