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Infidels Records
Infidels Records: Artist - UniversalDice
“This Is Not Surrender,” is the latest single from UniversalDice, released on March 23, 2026. This is another step forward for the band in an stirring 6 minute track that is an anthem for our times. This single and the previously released “War and Peace, part 1” will be featured on the upcoming album, “Be Reasonable.”
Misfit Memoirs was the last album release by UniversalDice! It features the four singles previously released, “Curse,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Slip Away,” and “A Very Small Man” plus ten more all new UniversalDice songs. The album is a look back at family, love, life and the things that make us who we become. Songs from the album have been streamed 750,000 times since its release in September 2024. It was named Indie Album of the Year by Indie Shark Music Magazine.
UniversalDice's music falls somewhere under the category of classic indie rock, appealing to fans of both classic rock and indie oriented rock that is adventurous and surprising. The band's goal is to make the music sound good and make it meaningful. There are no limitations, so the band is liable to rock out, or use a string quartet if that is what it takes. Lyrically, UniversalDice is in a category by itself, using a conversational lyrical style from a true-to-life humanistic perspective. This band is NOT trendy, dated, edgy, generic, rebellious, traditional, current, modern, retro, alternative or mainstream, etc. This simply is NOT what you were expecting. Don't take our word for this!
IndieShark Music Magazine
CONGRATULATIONS to UniversalDice Winner of (2024) Album of the Year
By Mark Druery
March 25, 2025
CONGRATULATIONS to UniversalDice Winner of (2024) Album of the Year
UniversalDice’s Misfit Memoirs (Gerry Dantone) has done it—snagging the coveted “Album of the Year” award and marking a watershed moment in modern rock. This isn’t just an accolade; it’s a resounding affirmation of UniversalDice’s ability to capture the zeitgeist with raw emotion, incisive storytelling, and a sonic palette that defies categorization. With Misfit Memoirs, the band has crafted an expansive, concept-driven opus that resonates as deeply as it entertains, and Rolling Stone is here to celebrate that achievement.
MobYorkCity.com
UNIVERSALDICE DROPS NEW SINGLE
Alright, my fellow music-loving buds, gather ’round ’cause I’ve got some groovy news to lay on ya! UniversalDice just dropped their latest single, “Slip Away,” and let me tell ya, it’s a straight-up masterpiece, man.
But it ain’t just the music that’s got me all fired up, oh no. The lyrics, man, the lyrics—they’re like poetry set to music, weaving a tale of life’s ups and downs with a wisdom that goes beyond their years. Inspired by the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, these words ain’t just catchy—they’re downright profound. Lines like “Make the most of what you spend, before you end your stay” hit you right in the feels, reminding us to live each moment to the fullest, ya know?
And let’s not forget about the instrumentation, my friends. UniversalDice ain’t messin’ around when it comes to their craft, man. They’ve got this killer orchestral arrangement that just elevates the whole dang thing to another level. It’s like they’ve taken the best elements of classic rock and infused them with a modern twist, creating a sound that’s fresh yet familiar all at once…
Big Celebrity Buzz
“Once Upon A Time” by UniversalDice
And so let us raise a toast to UniversalDice—a band that continues to push the boundaries of rock music while staying true to their roots. With “Once Upon A Time” as their latest offering, they prove once again that in a world of fleeting trends and empty promises, there is still room for music that speaks to the soul. So let the countdown begin, dear readers, for “Misfit Memoirs” promises to be an album for the ages—a timeless ode to the resilience of the human spirit, brought to life by the incomparable talents of UniversalDice.
Skope Magazine
“Curse” From UniversalDice
The first single “Curse” from UniversalDice’s new album Misfit Memoirs throws down a gauntlet challenging the idea that classic rock is passe. Gerry Dantone’s creative stewardship over Universal Dice has produced several memorable moments already, but “Curse” ranks among the finest work yet from this unit. It harbingers a brilliant release with Misfits Memoirs while standing on its own as a thoroughly satisfying musical experience."
The songs on “Misfit Memoirs”
1. My Heart is in Your Hands: A simple song about love. Features a 3 guitar solo finale. Ed Canova, bass; Gerry Dantone, everything else.
2. Once Upon a Time: A couple of true stories. Vin Crici, additional drums; Gerry Dantone, everything else.
3. Kiss Me: Love is complicated. You find it only to lose it. Features awesome piano and some reverse guitar parts. Vin Crici, piano; Ed Canova, bass; Gerry Dantone, everything else.
4. I'm Not Me Anymore: The beginning of a 5 song arc. Life is complicated, often beyond whatever we/they are able to explain. We throw in some wah-wah! Ed Canova, bass; Gerry Dantone, everything else.
5. Curse: A song about parents and children. Ed Canova, bass; Gerry Dantone, everything else.
6. I Hate You: The next line is “'cause you hate me…” Gerry Dantone, everything.
7. Forgive Me: Could it be that everything you believed was wrong? Bob Barcus, lead & rhythm guitar; Ed Canova, bass; Gerry Dantone, lead & rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, everything else.
8. Stay: In the end, you can stay with me a while. Ed Canova, bass; Gerry Dantone, everything else.
9. Dance Real Close: An older song. A little slide guitar. Vin Crici, piano, Walt Sargent, organ; Ed Canova, bass; Gerry Dantone, everything else.
10. Delectable: This song was conveyed to Gerry Dantone by Paul McCartney via a dream. Paul sang, “You are so delectable,” and trusted us to finish the song. This song features Ebow guitar. Ed Canova, bass; Gerry Dantone, everything else.
11. Surrounded: More true stories. Gerry Dantone, everything.
12. A Very Small Man: We can't imagine what this song is about. Gerry Dantone, everything.
13. Slip Away: Don't let life slip away. Ed Canova, bass; Gerry Dantone, everything else.
14. Forgot to Say: The End. Bob Barcus, acoustic guitar; Gerry Dantone vocals.
All the lyrics are here: https://universaldice.com/lyrics-to-misfit-memoirs
UniversalDice has been fortunate enough to have received many reviews and hundreds of playlist additions, and have garnered positive feedback from both curators and listeners alike. This positive reception only fuels the passion to continue creating music that stands the test of time. These songs are not meant to be disposable. They are NOT "product." The band is in this for the music.
Songwriter, singer and political and philosophical writer/activist Gerry Dantone has a writing style that is first and foremost humanistic, but also coherent, provocative and multi-layered. In addition, the band's primary themes are as big as they get; life and death and meaning and purpose. No other band is as prepared to tackle these subjects as UniversalDice. Longtime bandmates Bob Barcus on guitar and Eddie Canova on bass are among Long Island's finest session players and more recent members are longtime Long Island musical giants Walt Sargent and Vincent Crici who add their keyboard support to the band's latest tunes.
The songs of the previous album, "birth, love, hate, death", the second rock opera written and produced by Gerry Dantone, were well received. "blhd" was focused on love in real life terms, imperfections and all. This is a nuanced album and the lyrics are NOT what you would expect - there are no easy cliches here, no unrealistic happy endings. At the same time their memorable melodies recall the qualities admired in many classic bands though their songs never sound like any of these classic band's tunes in particular. These songs are original in every sense.
"War and Peace, Part 1":
Music from “Misfit Memoirs”:
Music to "birth, love, hate, death":
Lyrics to "birth, love, hate, death": http://www.universaldice.com/lyrics_to_birth_love_hate_death
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@universaldice
Reviews of "birth, love, hate, death":
Indie Music Reviews: "We don’t see albums like this in the mainstream much anymore... more and more artists of every musical type are increasingly building easily digestible releases. Not so for Gerry Dantone and Universal Dice. This aims high and finds its mark.
Valhalla Music Blog: "Whether pulling off some keyboard/vocal tenderness with “Honestly” and soulful closer “Forever,” or coming straight from the rock n’ roll gut on “I Love It When They Hate It” and “Better Man,” Universal Dice can do absolutely nothing wrong on this record. If you long for the days when musical giants walked and ruled the Earth, then "birth, love, death, hate" will be exactly the kind of sonic reminder you’ve been hoping to hear for ages. What an album, what a band; highly recommended!"
Razorfish: "Universal Dice pulls out all of the stops on this monstrous masterwork. With diverse songwriting flair, excellent instrumentation, meaningful vocals and lyrics and a production job that leaves a ton of space for each instrument to cut through, there’s absolutely not a single bum note or tune in the bunch. Anyone that wants a slice of REAL DEAL, vintage rock n’ roll done with an updated outlook on the sound must absolutely score a copy of birth, love, hate, death… it simply doesn’t get any better than this."
Indie Band Guru: "Gerry Dantone’s aspirations remind us of an earlier time in our history, not far removed from today, when musicians and composers working in popular music looked to stretch the form to accommodate the wide breadth of their dreams and express the seemingly inexpressible. The fourth studio release from Dantone’s band Universal Dice birth, love, hate, death is one of those albums and carries listeners on an amazing, bracing journey over sixteen songs."
Skope Magazine: "Universal Dice’s fourth release is definitely their best yet and shows Dantone’s songwriting creativity has no appreciable limit."
Released on CDBaby, Amazon, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere else, et al.
Sounds like Green Day, the Killers, the Who, the Beatles, Eagles, Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, but really they sound like no one else!
Genre: Classic indie rock and classic rock
Email: info@universaldice.com
www.UniversalDice.com
https://www.facebook.com/UniversalDice/
https://twitter.com/universaldice
https://www.instagram.com/gerrydantone/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5UqnHMQA5AgmLcD4W7BGLM?si=CLIl4HSlTxW8FUAqFW-uWw
https://www.youtube.com/@universaldice
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/universaldice/67000312
