The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: Dorrough Paints A Gem With "Ice Cream Paint Job" at No. 7

By Pete Freedman Fri., Dec. 25 2009 at 4:01 PM
[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today we take an in-depth look at song No. 7 on the list--and, please, feel free to click after the jump for a free download of the track. Lastly, please keep checking back to see how the list pans out. Also after the jump, check out songs No. 40-26 in the Top 40 list that will update as it grows...]

No. 7: Dorrough -- "Ice Cream Paint Job"

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There's no question about: In 2009, Dallas hip-hop was associated with Dorrough's name. From his breakthrough national hit single, "Walk That Walk" to his currently BET-airing video, "Wired to the T" (and even his highly enjoyable Christmas song, "I Want (Hood Christmas)", Dorrough's been the shining star of the local radio-friendly hip-hop set.

But, one has to wonder: Do his songs actually have any lasting redeeming value? Are they actually any good?

Two words: Yeah, buddy.

Bonus mp3: Dorrough -- "Ice Cream Paint Job"


A fine display of the highly enjoyable draw of the D-Town Boogie sound, "Ice Cream Paint Job" stands as perhaps the crown jewel in the Dallas hip-hop cap, a non-instructional dance track that's almost impossible not to dance to--and, better yet, isn't a completely embarrassing offering as the town tries to lay its claim as the next big hip-hop Mecca. (I'm looking at you, "Do The Ricky Bobby".)

At face value, "Ice Cream Paint Job," what with Dorrough running down a checklist of things a car must have for him to feel good riding in it (all fantasy, by the way), serves as simply an ode to automobiles. But, on another level, it's more like an allegory to the whole Dallas hip-hop movement, which emphasizes style as much as substance. Dorrough's simply talking about how cool he and his car are. And he's boasting rather than bragging--an important distinction, as well.

At its core, the D-Town Boogie movement isn't about how much cooler Dallas and its artists and fans are than others--the goofy dances these fans all enjoy pretty much prove that much alone--but rather about how much fun everyone's having and how proud they are of as much. It's knowingly goofy and unabashedly fun. Or that's how it's supposed to be.

Before Dorrough even introduces himself on the track, he shows that he understands that much, letting out big, infectious laugh. See, he knows he's about to sing a goofy song about his car's paint job, and he doesn't care; he's just trying to have some fun with it. And because he does so naturally and with great ease, the song scores as a result.

The Top 40 Local Songs of 2009 (Links to music videos and free song downloads available where applicable; links to streams where neither a download nor video exists.)
40. The Wax Museums -- "Safety in Numbers"
39. Macon Greyson -- "Pushing Strings"
38. The Burning Hotels -- "Austin's Birthday" (video)
37. The Riverboat Gamblers -- "DissDissDissKissKissKiss" (video)
36. Salim Nourallah -- "Endless Dream Days"
35. The Phuss -- "Preacher, Preacher"
34. The Southern Sea -- "These Things Always End Badly"
33. Fungi Girls -- "Pacifica Nostalgia"
32. Giggle Party -- "Jason Bought a Hatchet" (video)
31. Carter Albrecht -- "Country Living" (stream)
30. This Old House -- "At Risk"
29. Occult Detective Club -- "You'll Follow Me" 
28. Bad Sports -- "Nothing But Agitation"
27. Darktown Strutters -- "Quakertown"
26. The Crash That Took Me -- "Patricia Lynn" (stream)
25. Red Monroe -- "Pat Mayse Lake"
24. Danny Balis -- "Tethered"
23. Sleep Whale -- "Cotton Curls"
22. PVC Street Gang -- "Cutlass" (video)
21. Air Review -- "Jura"
20. Xrabit & Damaged Good$ -- "Follow the Leader" (video)
19. Doug Burr -- "The Righteous Will Rejoice"
18. Seryn -- "We Will All Be Changed"
17. galleryCat -- "Say Say Say"
16. Sunnybrook -- "Waving Hands"
15. The O's -- "You've Got Your Heart"
14. Ishi -- "Pastel Lights"
13. Binary Sunrise -- "Five Minutes"
12. The Paper Chase -- "What Should We Do With Your Body? (The Lightning)"
11. Fergus & Geronimo -- "Tell It In My Ear"
10. Max Moon -- "Urban Outfitters"
9. Neon Indian -- "Deadbeat Summer"
8. Bosque Brown -- "This Town"
7. Dorrough -- "Ice Cream Paint Job"
6. ????????
5. ????????
4. ????????
3. ????????
2. ????????
1. ????????

...and be sure to keep checking back, as this list will update daily

Tags:

Dorrough, year-end lists
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