Universal Dice’s Latest Song “Curse”

Universal Dice’s latest song “Curse” is the first single from the band’s new studio effort titled Misfit Memoirs. It reveals that songwriter Gerry Dantone and his skilled cohorts are working at or near the peak of their powers and still pursuing a fresh yet familiar aesthetic. Dantone comes across as a true believer in Lou Reed’s idea that you can write rock music for grown-ups rather than trying to sustain a career based on letting the good times roll, fast cars, and women. “Curse” does not hesitate to deal with thorny, even uncomfortable, human emotions and doesn’t offer easy answers. His unflinching depiction of people locked in dramatic combat with all of the attendant heated emotions, consequences, and aftermath is a superb example of rock music’s enduring power in the 21st century.

You can tell Dantone is a true believer. It comes through every second of this five-minute plus cut. Classic rock fans will note that Dantone has learned his lessons well for structuring a ballad, not the top 40 variety, but rather a substantive track that takes listeners on a deep emotional dive. The emotions laced throughout the song’s lyrics are dramatic, and Dantone’s singing treats them with the respect they deserve. He is an attentive singer who shapes his singing to fit the movement of the music rather than trying to lead the way with his voice.

This seamlessness between the song’s various components strengthens the overall package. Dantone and his bandmates leave no stone unturned to make the song a success. The lead guitar playing in the song’s second half adds savory flavor to an already tasty performance without ever sounding too cliched. A song such as this could easily smack of pretentiousness in less sophisticated hands. However, Dantone and his musical partners grasp what it needs and deliver the goods with style.

“Curse” benefits from outstanding production values. There is not a plethora of instruments cluttering the arrangement, and each player comes through without overshadowing their bandmates. The light veneer of orchestration present throughout the piece only increases the song’s impact on listeners. Dantone’s voice exists side by side with the instruments rather than sounding superimposed over the arrangement.

The construction is impeccable. Dantone’s songwriting eschews any needless detours or extravagance in favor of presenting the song to maximum effect. He opens the performance with plaintive acoustic guitar chords and concludes the performance on the same note affording us with a rare unity from such material. There is a bit of self-consciousness you can infer from such a build. In Dantone’s hands, it sounds natural.

The track lives and breathes with minimal effort. Nothing sounds labored or overworked. Universal Dice crafts a single that will satisfy any longtime rock fan, young or old, and performs the enviable feat of balancing the past and present without ever deferring too much in either direction. There are not many bands or solo artists you can say that about. Universal Dice’s “Curse” checks off every conceivable box and leaves you wanting more.  

Mindy McCall