Celebrating 25 years of musical evolution and indie folk-rock mastery, Denim Dan has released a commemorative album titled “Denim Dan’s 25th Anniversary (1999 – 2024)”. This collection, marking the band’s quarter-century journey, is a nostalgic yet refreshing reminder of the band’s enduring influence in the indie music scene. It acts as the official follow-up to the previous album “Santa Maria’s Dome“.
Table of Contents
A Look Back: 25 Years in 20 Tracks
Denim Dan’s latest offering is a curated anthology, featuring 20 tracks from their previous seven albums. This compilation is more than just a greatest hits album; it’s a carefully chosen selection that reflects the band’s musical growth and the various stylistic experiments they’ve embraced over the years.
Tracks From “3AM”
The album kicks off with three tracks from their 2022 album, “3AM”, known for its moody introspection and delicate balance of folk and rock influences. These tracks manage to set the tone for the reflective journey that the 25th-year celebratory album promises. “3AM (I Call You Up)” starts it all off with an intricate tuneful sound with strong vocals that effortlessly convey the relatable lyrics. The electric guitar towards the end adds spirit and grit which we’ve come to expect from Denim Dan after we last reviewed “Santa Maria’s Dome”, and we expect their signature style to run throughout this anniversary album.
“Not Always Skies of Blue” follows next, bringing a more folk-rock vibe to the overall album sound, with the electric guitar taking on more of a central stage, expanding the track, adding depth, and impressing listeners all the way through. Rounding out the three tracks from this 2022 album is “Taking It Slow”, which has a more laid-back folk-rock vibe to it with some awesome lyrical rhymes that truly allow the band’s vocalist, Michael Halitzer, to shine. The track progressively develops with more instruments being added towards the end with both the drums and the keys stealing the spotlight for their segments.
Tracks From “No Guarantee”
“Don’t Throw It Away” is the next song which is taken from the “No Guarantee” album released in 2020 alongside the following two tracks from this 25-year celebratory album. It keeps the tuneful vibe going, fuelling a rich instrumental backing track which synergises well with the folk-rock vocals and the inspiring lyrics that are set to motivate every listener. This leads well into “Life Has Just Begun”, a track that focuses on awesome guitar chords that hook the fans in straight away, backed by some powerful drum beats. Denim Dan’s vocals allow the song to breathe while empowering us all with lyrics full of advice.
The sixth track on the new album is titled “Come Back Home” which is a total stand-out track from Denim Dan’s collection. It opens with a unique instrumental segment that sounds like a harmonica making it unlike any other track on the album, before the strong vocals delve into heartfelt lyrics full of love and support. The harmonica returns as the song wraps up showcasing their impressive skills. If there’s one thing that Denim Dan does well, it is showcasing and amplifying all the instrumentalists that are a part of the band.
Tracks From “This Way, That Way, The Other Way”
The next four tracks are taken from the 2023 album “This Way, That Way, The Other Way”, starting off with “Let Your Love Fall Down on Me (Too)”, which takes a more indie-rock approach with subtle folk vibes thrown in. Once again, Denim Dan impresses with the backing track keeping a catchy rhythm throughout that coalesces brilliantly with the addictive lyrics and heartfelt vocals. “Bernalillo Baby” is the next track, switching it up with a lower registry vocal that effortlessly portrays the narrative lyrics, discussing how he always sees this girl as perfect just the way she is, even if she’s just moved back from living with someone she didn’t know so well while possibly carrying his baby.
Following that track is “The Moment” which is another strong lyric narrative that paints a brilliant moment in time full of feelings and emotions that is led by the heart-filled vocals and the addictive rhythmic backing track that is hypnotic and captivating from start to finish. This catchy track is the one that is bound to get stuck in one’s head the most out of all 20 tracks. This links in well with “We Are Who We Are” as this also has a catchy rhythmic sound encompassed by bright tunes from what sounds like a flute bringing a lighter folk energy to the album as a whole.
Tracks From “Santa Maria’s Dome”
The heart of the album features four tracks from their 2023 release, “Santa Maria’s Dome”, an album that showcased Denim Dan at their experimental best. This section of the album serves as a powerful reminder of the band’s ability to evolve while staying true to their indie folk-rock roots. Track 11, “It’s Got to Be Love”, unfolds as a folk-rock ballad, with the guitar’s melodic chords taking the spotlight and complementing lyrics that convey a deep sense of love and certainty. As the song progresses, a captivating flute instrumental makes a surprising appearance, adding an unexpected yet fitting touch that elevates the track to an unforgettable moment.
Next is “Down by the River Bend Flow”, a track that dives deep into progressive rock with an indie twist, showcasing Denim Dan’s knack for blending genres. We named this as our favourite track on the “Santa Maria’s Dome” album during our review and we still fully stand by that due to its addicting beat and ’80s-inspired rock.
“Guess I’ll Be Alright” brings a harmonious blend of indie-folk and rock, featuring the frontman’s strongest vocal performance to date. The song’s infectious hook and storytelling lyrics about resilience and moving forward resonate deeply with listeners. This section culminates with “Remind Me”, where Denim Dan’s experimental edge shines through with the prominent use of saxophone and dynamic drumming, adding layers of complexity to their signature sound with an elevated soulful vibe running throughout.
Tracks From “Denim Dan Meets Dylan..a Tribute”
Only one track from the Bob Dylan tribute album has made it onto this 25th anniversary album—”Things Have Changed” is track number 15 and it’s an addictive folk-rock take on the Bob Dylan track. Fitting in well with the previous “Santa Maria’s Dome” tracks, this one features strong vocals and an intoxicating beat, effortlessly conveying the story-telling lyrics aligned with the nostalgic effect of a cover song and truly taking the Bob Dylan track to a whole other level, making it their own.
Tracks From “No Lies In Blue Skies”
Two tracks have been taken from this 2018 album to be included in this collection, including the title track from said album, “No Lies In Blue Skies”, which starts with prominent piano chords and Denim Dan’s folk vocals. What truly sets this track apart is the additional female vocals that blend and harmonise with Michael Halitzer’s voice to create a dynamic vibe filled with passion and emotion. As the track progresses, a standout guitar segment in the middle and toward the end reinforces the band’s distinctive style, leaving a lasting impression on the listener.
“Where the Sun Does Shine” is the 17th track on the “Denim Dan’s 25th Anniversary (1999 – 2024)” album and it’s another standout track due to the female vocals that align with the song, begging the question of whether a female vocalist appears on the entire “No Lies In Blue Skies” album. The track is rhythmic and soulful, blending folk and rock influences with a rich array of instruments. The drums drive the song forward, while the prominent presence of what sounds like a saxophone, adds depth. Together with the vocalists’ infectious chorus, this is one memorable and dynamic track.
Tracks From “Your Foreign Town”
The last three tracks are from Denim Dan’s debut album “Your Foreign Town” which was released back in 1999. “Let It Flow” instantly lets the listener know that we’re listening to some of the band’s first-released tracks as hard-hitting drums and rock guitar chords blaze through the speakers, bringing a different indie folk-rock style to the table which sides more with hard indie-rock. Again, a female vocalist joins Michael Halitzer’s voice as he spreads positivity in the lyrics. While there’s still obvious folk influence throughout, rock takes centre stage with the band bringing a fired-up rhythm during the instrumental segments.
This is also seen in the next two tracks, with “Go Where Life Leads You” taking a more soft-rock approach while the lyrics continue to encourage and empower the listeners. The rhythmic backing track has some surprising tuneful additional instruments that add an infectious quality to ensure it gets stuck in your head. The last track, “It’s You”, wraps it all up with heartfelt lyrics and strong guitar chords, truly showcasing Denim Dan’s originality back in 1999, and how far the band has come while still keeping to their signature style.
A Journey Through Denim Dan’s Timeless Sound
“Denim Dan’s 25th Anniversary (1999 – 2024)” is more than a nostalgic look back; it’s a celebration of Denim Dan’s resilience and ability to adapt and evolve over the years. Each track is a piece of the larger puzzle that is Denim Dan’s career—a career marked by a constant exploration of sound, a dedication to storytelling, and an unwavering connection with their audience while keeping their folk-rock signature sound.
This anniversary album isn’t just a gift to long-time fans, but also an invitation to new listeners to experience the richness of Denim Dan’s discography. Whether you’ve been following the band since their debut or are just now discovering them, “Denim Dan’s 25th Anniversary (1999 – 2024)” offers something for everyone.
“Denim Dan’s 25th Anniversary (1999 – 2024)” is now available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms.