In a world where music often feels like it’s packaged to fit neatly into genre boxes, Misfit Memoirs by UniversalDice unapologetically breaks out of every mold—and does so with an air of effortless cool. The album is a poetic and sonic journey through love, loss, and existential musings, with an eclectic blend of sounds that defy classification. UniversalDice—a band that refuses to be trendy, rebellious, or even retro—has created something timeless and distinctly theirs. It’s as if they’ve written a love letter to rock itself, but with every line redacted and rewritten to express the messiness of human emotion.
The opening track, “My Heart is in Your Hands,” serves as an understated but deeply emotional entry point. Simple and earnest, the song feels like an intimate confession whispered in the dark, only to build into a climax that’s unapologetically grand with its three-guitar solo finale. Gerry Dantone, who masterfully takes on “everything else” beyond Ed Canova’s bass, proves that you don’t need complex lyrics to make a statement about love. Sometimes, it’s all in the sound.
Next comes “Once Upon a Time,” which offers a refreshing twist on the idea of storytelling in rock music. It’s less a fairy tale and more a raw recounting of life’s unpredictable narrative, driven by punchy drums courtesy of Vin Crici and Dantone’s everything-else magic. The song vibrates with a bittersweet nostalgia that almost aches—like flipping through old photographs and laughing at the tears.
UniversalDice never sticks to one mood for long, though, and “Kiss Me” is proof of that. Love is no straightforward affair, and this track embodies its complications through gorgeous piano work by Crici and a haunting, experimental reverse guitar effect. It’s both tender and disorienting, a love song for anyone who’s ever found the ground shifting beneath their feet.
As the album progresses, the real intrigue begins with “I’m Not Me Anymore.” A wah-wah pedal and edgy bassline from Canova push the track into darker, funkier territory. It marks the beginning of a five-song arc where UniversalDice goes deep—life is complicated, love is complicated, and the band is all too happy to wade into the murky waters. Tracks like “Curse” and “I Hate You” explore parental relationships and the toxic push-pull of resentment, with Dantone’s emotive vocals making you feel like you’re eavesdropping on a therapy session set to music.
And just when you think the album might get too heavy, UniversalDice lightens the mood with “Dance Real Close,” a dreamy, older track that flirts with slide guitar and a vintage organ played by Walt Sargent. It’s the musical equivalent of twirling in a summer dress—unabashedly romantic and sweet, yet layered with a sense of nostalgia.
The real pièce de résistance, however, comes in the form of “Delectable,” a song reportedly inspired by a dream involving Paul McCartney. (Yes, really.) With an Ebow guitar that adds an ethereal touch, this track is whimsical, absurd, and completely captivating. It’s the kind of thing you’d expect to hear if the universe took a break from seriousness and indulged in a bit of fantasy.
Finally, “Forgot to Say” closes out the album on a note that’s introspective and a little melancholic, stripping things down to just Dantone’s voice and Bob Barcus’s acoustic guitar. This ending—of both the album and perhaps something more significant—is delivered with a quiet, haunting beauty.
Misfit Memoirs is a deeply human album, unpolished in the best ways, filled with the kind of imperfections that make it feel real. UniversalDice isn’t trying to fit in—they’re too busy making music that resonates, and that’s exactly what makes this album so beautifully unexpected.
Rachel Townsend