Single Review: Dirty Sidewalks — “It’s Getting Better” b/w “Hey Girl”
Seattle-based Dirty Sidewalks recently released a 7” single worthy of a listen.
The a-side, “It’s Getting Better,” has already gotten some commercial traction in one of the few forms that actually generates income for the artist: TV and/or film placement. Twenty-odd seconds of “Getting Better” played during Episode 11 of Season 6 on Showtime’s Shameless. I won’t be the first or last to point out the song’s passing similarity to Modern English‘s 1980s smash “I Melt With You.” Regardless, it’s a catchy song that displays the group’s skill at writing and playing memorable tunes with a hook.
The flip track is “Hey Girl (I Wanna Be Your Man),” listed on the sleeve simply as “Hey Girl.” A video for the track recently premiered on Popshifter. Like the a-side, it showcases the band’s signature style, a chiming, stomping vibe characterized by fuzzy guitars, an insistent but not overwhelming beat, and understated, near-whispered vocals. There’s a solid pop undercurrent to Dirty Sidewalks’ music; it’s a successful melding of a grunge/shoegaze aesthetic with a catchy pop foundation and good old-fashioned guitar solo.
Apparently the single is available on either white or black vinyl. Mine’s black. More info on the band is at their Bandcamp page.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.