The Golden Dogs
Big Eye Little Eye
Yep Roc Records
By Eavvon O'Neal
A large part of the music industry is making a feeling a consumable. I’m not speaking about the purest evil that one may think of whenever “industry” is mentioned, but more of a concept of taking the thrill one can experience in a bar -- dim lighting, pungent, indiscriminant fragrances, and loud driving jams -- and concentrate it into a tight, sweaty, sexy and shinny packaged disc or file. The Golden Dogs’ first release on Yep Roc Records, Big Eye Little Eye, defiantly shows dedication toward the aim of selling a feeling, however its success may not be as assured as they may have hoped.
It has been said that these kids from Canada, Canucks if you will, “combine the best elements of new wave, classic rock, and power pop.” I would actually agree with that. So, there that is. But with such a melding of grooves, I’m still left wanting. The Dogs drop some pretty clever songs on this release, most notably “Construction Worker.” Actually clever is a tad too giving. It’s a silly song about a common frustration, and it’s relatable, and that’s an important element for any band trying to pull the support of us average, non-rock star, commuting schmucks. The musicality, or sing-a-long factor is strong, but not in that corny, call-n-response, Kidz Bop type of way. “Runoutaluck” is similar in this, and the idea reminds me of songs The Teeth create, but without the organic feel or completely original lyrics.
“Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five” reminds me of a song John Lennon might try, but the layers of organ and guitar detract collide violently which takes away from the potential beauty in the open, yet its guitar solo at the 3:11 mark helps save the song (the organ’s presence is dropped significantly). “Life on the Line” is interesting in that by simply reading the lyrics, one would suppose wallowing in a puddle of your own bile would be the feeling encompassed by this tune. Instead it’s a sweet strummer of a song that either plays with the idea of compromising life situations, or just doesn’t care.
So when am I gonna get to the detractors of this album? What keeps it from being the ultimate bar jam album? Nothing. I just completely faked you out. If your one for bands who hit the mark in terms of packaged atmosphere, The Golden Dogs’ Big Eye Little Eye is worth you checkinga out.
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