The Dik Van Dykes Waste MOR Vinyl

Upon it's release, some some noted that the Dik Van Dykes second album did not equal their stunning debut. In the RockCrit universe, such a state of affairs is sneered off as just being “more of the same” whereas here, in the heartland of Obscurica, sophomore slumps and problematic follow-ups are considered as simply one more point on the continuum of brilliance.


Waste MOR Vinyl does continue the ridiculously sublime character of Nobody Likes...The Dik Van Dykes. The lyrics still blenderize junk culture touchstones (Robocop, Monster Trucks, The Beachcombers for starters), the choruses still stick to you like burs ("Chain Letter Massacre") and the accompaniment is still nobly savage ("Honeymoon In Niagara Falls"). However, it is true that the “Obvious Filler” herein (“Lost in Space”, “Cow Pie”) does not require labeling as it did on their debut. Yet, filler patches the cracks of almost every album and hence you can learn a lot about a band from its filler. Taking up five long minutes, “Lost in Space” ends the album and the band’s career: it’s blurry pacing and rambling narrative intimating that the band may have run smack into some insurmountable limitation. They surely could’ve prevailed but they let their work stand. And that’s cool.




Waste MOR Vinyl link is in the comments.

Speaking of comments, please tell us what you think of these songs or those from other problematic follow-up albums.


(Thanks to Jonathon for all his archival work, Alcolm X for the rips n' scans and to commenter Dik Van Dyke for his and his band mates’ music that proved to be hell of a lot less “insignificant” then they once promised in their liner notes.)