Music Notes With Howard - Free Gene Dante CD Download!

In his first installment of Music Notes, DavidDust Music Editor Howard blogged about Gene Dante & The Future Starlets. Thanks to Howards efforts, Gene Dante's people are now offering DavidDust readers a limited time free download of their CD (see below)! I'm assuming this is something you do with one of those fancy Ipod thingies - which continue to baffle me. Whatever happened to cassettes?...

Gene Dante & The Future Starlets - Part II - by Howard

Great news! Seems like we aren't the only people loving on Gene Dante & the Future Starlets. They have been racking up great reviews for the release of the new CD, The Romantic Lead. The Boston Herald says ”There’s a thrill in his drama-lounge delivery, sturdy melodies and on-the-money band, capable of handling anything from punk to power pop.” The Boston Globe explains how “Dante bangs a glam gong and gets his Bowie on to cheeky, mostly marvelous effect.” Boston.com lists the single A Madness To His Method as essential, going on to say "Gene Dante is not really a bitch, but he plays one on CD - as well as a number of other delectably haughty roles designed to showcase his inner (and outer) dandy."

Thanks to OmniRox Entertainment and Noel at SideCho, I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of the CD. The 11 songs now on my iPod, serenading me with the bristling guitar of Purity of Intent, the relentless bass line of The Starlet Hits The Wall, or the soulful storytelling of Brian, My Darling, this is an album that keeps on giving. The searching ballad The Dreamers is sweet, but it gears back up with the driving vocals on This Is The Closing. Yes, something new each time you turn around. And don't forget Madness To His Method and C Star, whose videos you have checked out in a previous post.

Gene Dante & the Future Starlets also have some upcoming live dates. Tour Dates include the following:

07/25 Boston, MA @ Provincetown Rocks! Festival

08/26 New York, NY @ Sullivan Hall

For more info on these shows and other dates, you can go to the website or the MySpace page.

I know you are asking yourselves 'how do I get the CD?' Well, with the continued generosity of Gene Dante & the Future Starlets, OmniRox Entertainment, SideCho Media and Amie Street Music, the whole CD will be made available as a FREE download. That's right, FREE! All you have to do is click here. This is only for a limited time, so I would suggest you do it now!

"Music Notes" With Howard

A true confession from David:

I am CLUELESS when it comes to music. I like the music I grew up with (from the 80's), the house music I danced to in the clubs (from the 90's), and some of the Top 40 that's on the radio now - and that's about it. Hell, I only recently stopped listening to cassettes, and I still have no idea how an IPOD works.

On the other hand, My friend (and Dust Bunny) Howard is extremely knowledgeable about a wide variety of music. Howard has also proven to be an excellent blogger/writer with his own blog - Soundtrack to my Day.

Therefore, I would like you to help me welcome Howard as the official Music Editor of DavidDust. However, when welcoming him, please do not let Howard know that the title of "DavidDust Music Editor" will most definitely not get him access to the Grammys, The American Music Awards, or even the annual Polka Music Awards. In fact, if I were Howard, I wouldn't mention it at all for fear of open ridicule and/or damage to his credit rating.

But in all seriousness, please take a look at Howard's first "Music Notes" post - where he tells us about Gene Dante and the Future Starlets...



Gene Dante And The Future Starlets - by Howard

Gene Dante and the Future Starlets are set to release their first CD, The Romantic Lead. The band came together in 2007, formed around the talents of lead singer Gene Dante. He is not only the nucleus of the band, but also the songwriter behind the endeavor. Lyrically, the song is smart and real.

The music is definitely current, but presented with a definite nod to the past. On the first single, A Madness to his Method, Dante's vocals harken to those of David Bowie, circa Thin White Duke era, crooning in that over-the-top style, but they are layered over music that is very now. His performance style seems an homage to Freddie Mercury, an in your face confidence which exudes, unlike the Thin White Duke's aloof coolness. He is no reluctant frontman, that is for sure.

A Madness To His Method, the first video release, is an anthem for the ages, the outcast giving the finger to the world. 'There is nothing in this brave new world wrong with me,' the chorus tells us, while be watch a young man apply makeup to his flawless skin. Dante himself is singing in the video in a tuxedo and full warpaint, eyes well painted and his lips a deep red, even while his bow tie dangles and the collar lays open. He's not diseased, not broken, just different. 'I am gorgeous, I am finally free,' he tells us, not letting society hold him down.



There is also C Star, which starts with a scorching guitar lick reminiscent of the pop rock of the 80s and Pat Benatar, only followed with the voice of Bowie and the phrasing of Lou Reed. This song would be toying with an 'X' rating, but the intelligence and humor might deliver the 'R.' The video, however, is not safe for most office situations, but well worth a look once you get home. Click HERE to see it.

The Young Starlets are comprised of drummer Tamora Gooding, bassist Jim Collins, and guitarist Scott Patalano. You can find out more about Gene Dante and the Future Starlets at their website.


Thanks Howard, for that excellent review. If you are a music lover - please start following Howard's blog - Soundtrack To My Day. And while you're over there, congratulate him on earning the EXTREMELY PRESTIGIOUS title of DavidDust Music Editor. Or not...