September 23, 2013

The Dirtbombs’ Return to Glory

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The Dirtbombs
Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-Blooey
In the Red

 

Detroit’s Dirtbombs have been one of the more consistently interesting and unpredictable rock ‘n’ roll bands since the late-’90s. Fronted by the tireless Mick Collins, previously the leader of the more abrasive Gories, the group has tackled a variety of styles, from punk to glam to soul. Following 2011’s slightly underwhelming Party Store, the Dirtbombs’ homage to techno, Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-Blooey marks a charming return to form.

Though billed as the band’s bubblegum album, there’s nothing silly or disposable about it, thanks to Collins’ tender rasp of a voice and snappy original tunes that evoke “Good Vibrations” and the likes of Tommy James and the Shondells without condescending to their sources. “Sugar on Top” or “Crazy for You” could turn the gloomiest day into a good time.

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WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

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