Silver Dollar Room – Melanin (2024)
Silver Dollar Room is a new alternative rock band from Scotland made of players with several years of experience on the scene, which means their recent single ‘Melanin’ hits hard. Within a handful of measures, their professionalism bears them out. This group is tight. With a full, layered sound and a take-no-prisoners vocalist, they self-consciously go after big topics with no apologies. Their Instagram profile says, “We have much to talk about!” No doubt we do. Not the least of which is the fact that each member of this quintet shines on ‘Melanin’ without implying the need to outshine the others.
Kicking off with a snappy groove, the guitarists (Dan Colvin and Jamie Turnbull or just one or both) lock in with aerobic drummer Douglas McDonald while bassist Lisa Aird slides in between them with a light attack. Taking over the focal point of the song, vocalist John Keenan gets straight to the point as the guitars cool
it and Aird changes her attack to keep up the intensity. Keenan’s voice is gritty and powerful, but his lack of swagger and attitude makes him sound empathetic rather than confrontational. Aird’s smooth voice balances perfectly with Keenan’s when she harmonises above him.
‘Melanin’ gains an extra layer of interest when Keenan sings, “Hates the colour of my skin” and the song switches muted chords in what sounds like a minor key. It may be that the guitar’s voice with the harmonies in fourths and fifths allows Keenan to sing the melody in a minor key. Whatever the case, it suddenly gives the song a tension that the listener can’t ignore, and McDonald’s tight snaps on the snare resonate like gunshots. Then it’s back to the aggressive major chords that opened the song. Throw in a killer guitar solo from Turnbull a verse later, with an extended development of that minor chord section and you have one hot single.
The band says of ‘Melanin’ that “it explores themes of judgment, vulnerability, identity, racial prejudice, and the struggle for autonomy in a world that often imposes limitations.” Whatever you think about those themes, Silver Dollar Room does an excellent job of balancing the space to reflect with the vulnerability that reflection can bring.
Find out more about Silver Dollar Room on their Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
