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Stands for Decibels
Image:Stands for decibels.jpg
Studio album by The dB's
Released	January, 1981
Genre	Power Pop, Alternative
Length	34:36
Label	Albion Records
Producer(s)	Alan Batrock and The Group
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau A- link Pop Matters (Recommended) link
The dB's chronology
N/A	Stands for Decibels (1981)	Repercussion (1982)

Stands for Decibels is the acclaimed 1981 debut album by The dB's. It was initially commercially unsuccessful but has since become recognized as a crucial album in the power pop canon, alongside releases by Big Star and Let's Active. Many rock bands, from Yo La Tengo to Teenage Fanclub to R.E.M., have cited the album as an influence.

At the time of its release, The dB's consisted of singer/guitarist Chris Stamey, singer/guitarist Chris Stamey, bassist Gene Holder and drummer Will Rigby. The songwriting between the group was evenly divided between Stamey and Holsapple, although Stamey became known for writing the stranger, more avant-garde numbers ("She's Not Worried", "Espionage") while Holsapple would write the more accessible, poppier songs ("Black And White", "Bad Reputation"). Both Stamey and Holsapple would play keyboards occasionally as well. Holder and Rigby didn't receive any credit for writing songs (other than a group credit for "Dynamite"), but with this album they helped create a reputation as being one of the most dynamic rhythm sections in rock, and arguably in power pop history.

The album's sound is mainly characterized by its use of power pop melodies and jangly guitars subverted by strange time changes and instrumentation. Most songs are uptempo but the last song, "Moving In Your Sleep", became one of their best known ballads. The first track, "Black and White", was also their first single, and is by far the best known song on the album and perhaps in the dB's entire oeuvre.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Personnel 2.1 Band 3 Honors

1. "Black and White" – 3:09 (Holsapple)
2. "Dynamite" – 2:35 (Holder/Hosapple/Rigby/Stamey)
3. "She's Not Worried" – 3:04 (Stamey)
4. "The Fight" – 2:54 (Holsapple)
5. "Espionage" - 2:39 (Stamey)
6. "Tearjerkin'" – 3:56 (Stamey)
7. "Cycles Per Second" - 3:06 (Stamey)
8. "Bad Reputation" – 3:11 (Holsapple)
9. "Big Brown Eyes" – 1:58 (Holsapple)
10. "I'm In Love" – 3:29 (Stamey)
11. "Moving In Your Sleep" - 4:35 (Holsapple)

Most CD versions (including the "Stands for Decibels/Repercussion" deluxe CD), come with a bonus track, the Holsapple-written single "Judy".

• Chris Stamey- Guitar, vocals
• Peter Holsapple- Guitar, vocals
• Gene Holder- Bass guitar
• Will Rigby- Drums

• Was ranked at 76 on Pitchfork Media's list of greatest albums of the 80s.