Rarely has any band crept under the skin and pressed all the right stylistic and musical buttons as current fave "The Dogs". Shameful to admit that I completely missed out on the first Album "Turn against this Land" a real blockbuster of a debut that has recently burnt a searing furrow on these ears. Not since I first heard the Skids "Scared to Dance" or XTC's "Black Sea" (to name but two) has an album sounded so complete and utterly devastating as a statement of serious intent. Only now, that the second DOGS album "Tall Stories from under the Table" has emerged from the punk ghost of Joe Strummer's brain, can I come clean and tell you, the reader, that The DOGS have most definitely been let out. These two albums are insistent, anthemic, and yes, a throwback to the early post-punk years. These are the albums that Paul Weller was dreaming of writing when the Jam ruled London, but somehow never quite delivered. The Clash would have been looking nervously over their shoulder if these two 21st Century gems had appeared 30 years earlier. Jake Burns would be tapping out his CV right now to apply for the position of lead singer/guitarist in the forlorn hope that they might not realise just how good Johnny Cookes' vocals really are, or how perfectly crafted Rikki Mehta & Luc Vargas's riffs come across. And as for the rhythm section - forget it - Rich (Mitchell) and Duncan (Timms) pound out a visceral, explosive & passionate tempo as if their lives depended on it. I can even hear Dave Grohl muttering between gritted teeth "jeez ... these guys are good".It doesnt matter which track you pick to switch on to the Dogs, whether it be the smouldering 5 minute (plus) epic track "Red" from Turns against this land, or current angst ridden single "This Stone is a Bullet". Whether it be catchy first album opener "London Bridge" or the jaunty acoustic-led "Chained to no-one" from Tall Stories.. you wont be disappointed by chancing upon "filler". There isnt any.
Yes, this band has crept under the skin and I think they are going to be there for a very long time indeed. Turn up the volume while you're there fellas, faith is restored. Sweet.
Check out THE DOGS Website
