The mutts nuts!
London hopeful, Dogs bring forth a sound that is indie rock with a gritty edge. First song 'London Bridge' is a great opener. With a slow start filled with noises you are wondering just what is going to happen, then a simple melodic riff packed with reverb starts up, then a fast beat takes over and the gravely vocals of Johnny Cooke begin, sounding a little like a cross between Paul Weller and Liam Gallagher. But it's the chorus that is the real winner here, a fast thunderous anthem that rings out like the bells at Notre Dame. When listening to the other songs it's easy to see how they fit into the guitar driven indie that is filling the radio stations and charts the country over, however the difference being that they do overlap into rock quite easily, mainly thanks to the vocals that lead more than a passing resemblance to Stereophonics main man Kelly Jones. In fact 'End Of An Era' could well be Stereophonics with lines like, "I'm so happy// when a relationship ends", and "I'll Bring You Firewood, And I'll Burn Your House Down" from the great 'Selfish Ways'.
'She's Got A Reason' is a mixed bag of a song with the half talk, half singing lyrics that sound a little like Johnny Rotten singing a Violent Delight song, snarling lyrics and all. It's original, but I'm unconvinced as to whether it's bold and brash, or uniquely crap. Even the chanting of, "I liked you better, when you liked me as well" is catchy but a little closer to a handful of football thugs sloshed on Stella, than a rock band looking to take on the world. 'It's Not Right' is a nice fast tempo number, but it's the great single, 'Tuned To A Different Station' that is a real gem here. Stomping out with a real balls-to-the-wall anthem, this has enough originality to blow your Franz Ferdinands, Athletes, and The Killers straight out of the water at less than twenty paces...
'Tarred And Feathered' is a little more thoughtful in the lyrics that speak of being typecasted and of course tarred with the same brush as your peers, and along with 'Donkey' and the epic 'Red', it reveals a heartbreaking underbelly that has you wincing at the experiences they've subjected themselves too in order to be able to write such emotion into their songs. There are more comparisons to a more melodic version of The Sex Pistols on 'Heading For An Early Grave'. Final song, and album namesake, 'Turn Against This Land' is a short piano ballad that still comes across with balls and emotion, but ends rather abruptly - let's hope that this isn't a sign...
Dogs are a band nodding ahead of the popular crop of indie based rock bands currently flirting with the hit parade, with their slightly heavier sound. It's original and appealing, and with their extensive touring perhaps time will tell as to whether the pop pickers actually want originality, or whether they will show how fickle they are by wanting another band to rehash an old and well worn sound. Whatever they think, these boys are the dogs bollocks...