Reviews...
Humming to a Dead Song Blog - dahlia Seed (1992-1996)
Veterans of the NY/NJ hardcore scene, Dahlia Seed was a groundbreaking band that defied the cookie-cutter formula of the prevalent indie rock scene at the time, transforming it into a more aggressive, punk-oriented sound to make a definitive impact on the genre known as "emo."Already unique in their own right, Dahlia Seed was known more for the gutsy, "in your face" performances of vocalist Tracy Wilson. For fans of Moss Icon, Native Nod, Shotmaker.Dahlia Seed - Please Excuse All the Blood
You know those annoying people who constantly tell ”back in the day” stories? Well, I’m one of them. This is, I think, what makes me like this CD so darn much. I bought my first dahlia seed 7” about five or six years ago. I loved it despite the fact that the songs were so catchy that my roommates would wander around singing them to the point of driving me insane. So, when I listened to this CD I was taken aback, ’cause most of the songs were recorded back in the day. Tracy’s vocals are strong; they remind me of the first time I drove the 12 hours to New Jersey from Toronto to hear them live. dahlia seed are catchy and awesome and they have a song called ”Missing Sequences” (Voivod rules) — any American band that gives props to Canadian metal is ace. I know what yer thinking: ”Grandma tells us about the music.” Well, kiddo, it’s hardcore. Hardcore like it was back in the day.tesla van halen
Dahlia Seed - Please Excuse All the Blood
Rob Berntsen - Hip Hop Wannabe
The worst thing Sunny Day Real Estate ever did, besides influence a mass of sucka emo bands, was overshadow Dahlia Seed, one of the two indie bands (the other being Garden Variety) who outdid most others from 1994 to 1996 yet received none of SDRE’s cult following.
Dahlia Seed were difficult to nestle in a genre; they were indie rock, punk and emo simultaneously, yet like GV, one of the few to be none of (and more than) those things. Unlike Garden Variety, who were equal parts raging guitars, stop-and-go drums and Anthony Roman’s manic vocals, Dahlia Seed were almost all singer Tracy Wilson. Not to take anything from the rest of the band, because the frenzied drums and melodic, sometimes glam guitars had their place (the instrumental “Indian Burn”), but Wilson was the punk Ani Difranco (in terms of influence on female listeners), with a voice of pure power and rage that could also be vulnerable.
“Excuse All the Blood” doesn’t totally show how great Dahlia Seed were but that’s not the point. Great bands are not defined by great songs but great albums, the same way athletes are defined by seasons and not games, so this discography of sorts, containing mostly live, cover and seven-inch material is more for those who miss Dahlia Seed than an introduction (though “Standing 8 Count” and "Bee Sting" might be their best songs). “Statement of Purpose,” originally off the Garden Variety 7” split, and the slow, burning “Gregg Leto’s Tears” contain Wilson’s most tortured vocals, but their full-lengths “Valentine Kid’s Litter,” and especially “Survived By” are the essentials.
Dahlia Seed - Please Excuse All the Blood
Robert Amezcua (Pomona, CA)
Friday 5-Pack! Dahlia Seed Edition!
www.allimperfectthings.typepad.comToday, the Friday 5-Pack is giving a big fat shout out to a band that deserves more recognition than they ever got. They were called Dahlia Seed. They were a band from New Jersey that was around in the mid 1990s. They also happened to be the band that popped my cherry as far as being into "local" bands.
Back in the day, they were considered emo. But please, please, please don't be put off by this. Emo circa 1995 sounds absolutely nothing like the pop-punk bullshit that's called emo today. This is much more hardcore based, rock and roll.
They were one of the best live bands that i ever saw. Their female singer was a huge obsession for someone like me (young male of age 15 or 16). She was also beautiful and would twirl her hair when she sang. It was so hot. Not to mention her voice that blends soft beauty with angry passion. Their lead guitarist had an incredible stage presence. He would thrash around violently and make you want to break stuff. And the drummer? Well, he was just straight up awesome.
At about the time that I started listening to them (1996?) they announced their official breakup. I was traumatized. So what did i do? I went to all of their last 3 shows.
Anyways. I'm going to make it really easy for you to become a fan of them. They're website contains MP3s of nearly every song they ever recorded. Go there and start downloading them immediately. Just click HERE !
If you need more convincing, i've picked out 5 songs that have always particularly stood out for me. Just click 'em to get 'em.
1. Dahlia Seed: "Standing 8 Count"
2. Dahlia Seed: "Gregg Leto's Tears"
3. Dahlia Seed: "About"
4. Dahlia Seed: "Cover Letter"
5. Dahlia Seed: "Spot Check And"
Dahlia Seed / Garden Variety split: "Statement of Purpose / Parker" 7"/(MintTone Records)
I got this 7" at the GV show here at Cornell. I put the Dahlia Seed side on my record player and it was love at first hearing. It's rare that I like a song so much in the first listening, but that's what it was. "Statement of Purpose" is just a perfect song, and the singer has the coolest voice when she screams out the chorus. The Garden Variety side is good too. They're a good cross between pop-punk and indierock. I like their song on this 7" a lot: reminds me of times when I felt a certain way. I dunno.Dahlia Seed - Survived By...
In this case, "seminal" should be taken literally. If you're a semiobscure indie band that other bands cite as an influence, chances are Dahlia Seed is the band you cite as an influence. Thanks to Troubleman Unlimited's mail-order copies of their work, even total mainstreamers can now check out the Seed's cross-pollination of female emo vocals and art-punk guitars.Dahlia Seed - Please Excuse All the Blood - Spirit Of Orr
I'm thrilled when things like this finally manage to find their way out of someone's closet. Dahlia Seed was a vibrant band that existed from 1992-1996 churning out a brand of emo/indie rock filled with intriguing guitars, raw honesty, and well-sung female vocals. They released two albums and a bunch of singles. This is a collection of some of their rare material (like the Voivod cover from their one-sided tour single) along with unreleased recordings and live songs. The live songs don't fare so well, but the other recordings are nice to have out finally. Not a band to be forgotten.Andrew Chadwick
Dahlia Seed / 'Milk'
From the Dead Vinyl Blog
To kick things off, it's the Dahlia Seed half of their split 7" with Greyhouse, released by Troubleman Unlimited in 1993.
I was talking with a friend tonight about the early-to-mid-nineties punk/indie/hardcore scene(s) in both North Jersey, where I hail from, and the Jersey Shore, where he grew up. The North Jersey scene, probably due to its proximity to NYC, was much more progressive musically than the Shore, which leaned heavily towards sXe hardcore. In North Jersey, it was pretty common to see bands like Chisel or Hellbender play VFW shows. Indie bands were pretty well accepted at a time that no one would have thought of calling them 'emo', even when booked in between pop punk bands.
It came up in conversation that another mutual friend from that time, a guy named Tim who booked a lot of the North Jersey-style 'artsy' bands in the Shore region, passed away two years ago. Until very recently, neither of us had any idea. It's one thing to hear that an old friend got married or had a kid or joined the military or moved to Europe. It's another thing entirely to know that someone you so clearly identify with a certain place and time is no longer alive. I guess you really can't go home again.
So this one's for Tim, where ever he is...
Dead Vinyl
from a voivod message board: the topic - Voivod's album Nothingface
classic. i've been saying so for going on 10 years now. dahlia seed did a lovely cover of "missing sequences" subtitled (voivod rules), and it's real fucking nice, too.post name: (awesoma_pow...)
from an interview with Away & the late Piggy of Voivod
Terrance - "Man...that was really weird which is why I enjoyed that album and I'd like to say that's it and thanks a lot for the interview!!!"AWAY - "Thanks a lot for the tape." (i gave him a tape of early "Killing Joke" peel sessions and a cover of "Missing Sequences" by "Dahlia Seed")
Hey, thanks Terrance! It was confirmed a while back that Voivod indeed obtained a copy of our cover and liked it very much. Away contacted Tracy a few years ago about using the song on a Voivod tribute record which unfortunately never saw the light of day as far as I know.
Read the full interview here:http://www.voivodfan.com/96_interview_neutronboy2000.htm
Dahlia Seed - Please Excuse All The Blood - Spirit of Orr Records
Dahlia Seed is no more. The band dissolved in 1996, but this final album is a collection of unreleased tracks and rare singles from this basement punk band. The tough voiced Tracy Wilson tears through some very simple, but good, tunes with all the conviction necessary. If these are the leftovers, I would like to give the main dish a try.