The long awaited new album has finally hit the streets! For anyone new here, I’ll tell you right up front that I’m highly biased toward this band. Bret Domrose, Dogstar’s guitarist and vocalist, and I have a friendship, a brotherhood really, going back 40+ years. I was the drummer in the first band he ever played in, and in every subsequent band and lineup for the next 10 years. I’m the one that talked him into singing (we parted ways with our original singer, so it was him or me, and I’m awful on vocals!) and I wrote all the lyrics for the first few years we got him on the mic. We played countless shows together, in every club from Watsonville to Oakland that would have us, and recorded I don’t know how many original songs. We were together for the first song of ours that got on the radio and did our first interviews together. He was my Best Man when I got married 32 years ago… And that’s just scatching the surface!!
Suffice it to say, I’m a HUGE fan of Bret and subsequently Dogstar. That being said, I’m going to be as honest as I can be about this new record. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t anxiously awaiting this record for a long, long time!!
BLONDE: I’d heard this one live a few times before I got the record and really liked it, but the recorded version hit me in a different way. It’s mid-tempo yet upbeat, and lyrics that convey a longing… A strong opener that doesn’t beat you over the head with bombast.
HOW THE STORY ENDS: Hit and miss… Some outstanding parts, some parts barely beyond basic. Harkens back to their early days.
EVERYTHING TURNS AROUND: Great song overall, quiet/loud transitions, nice vocal harmonies. Excellent guitar work, but it’s subtle and takes a few listens to pick it all up. An excellent choice for their first single from the record and one that’s already been on my heavy rotation list since it’s release.
OVERHANG: Very much reminds me of “The Cure” with the introduction, then its right into a solid 90’s power chord structure.
DILLON STREET: A distinct “Americana” sound, very different than the first part of the record. The first Dogstar song with harmonica, which while well done (??? what do I know, harmonica isn’t exactly in my wheelhouse) could have (and in my opinion should have) been replaced with some slide guitar.
LILY: This one may be my favorite on this record. Very power-pop-ish, but not in a cheesy way. Outstanding guitar work once again.
LUST: This is the other contender for my favorite track. A really great song, BUT the drums kinda suck the life out of it. Yes, as a drummer myself, I’m horribly biased. I just find missed opportunities all over the place drum-wise on this particular track. I’d give it an 8.5 out of 10. With a snappier drum performance, this one could’ve “gone to 11”.
GLIMMER: A little slow for my taste, but a strong, solid song nonetheless. Excellent guitar solo. Lyrically, one of Bret’s best to date. This one really paints a picture, so to speak…
SUNRISE: I’m torn on this one. Could’ve been another power-pop burner, but the “power” part is lacking. Again, the vocal harmonies are outstanding but overall it’s just tepid. Not a throwaway, but not a hit single either.
SLEEP: If I didn’t know better I’d swear this was a remake from the early days of Bret and I – dripping with 80’s vibe. This one has a Wire Train influence proudly on its sleeve. Top notch guitar solo once again, Bret was really shining here!
UPSIDE: Strong intro, good energy. For the first 10 seconds or so you might think you’re listening to a cover of a tune by The Church, then it quickly jumps into classic Dogstar – power chords, rolling bass and strong vocals.
BREACH: A real burner to close out the record! This one needs VOLUME to get its point across, there is nothing subtle about this track. Another good choice for a single and a favorite at the shows. Reeves throws out a couple quick solo bars that lend an 80’s punk feel to it. Overall, it grabs you, shakes you up a bit and before you know what hit you, it’s over. Well done!
Overall, in my not so humble opinion this is a strong album, if a little lopsided. While there is nothing earth shattering or world changing about it, for a straight up rock and roll record made by real people on real instruments, it is immensely enjoyable. I haven’t lived with it long enough to determine whether or not it will displace “Our Little Visionary” as my favorite Dogstar record, but I ABSOLUTELY think it is much better than “Happy Ending”.
The songwriting has certainly matured and the production is far more layered and dense than their past endeavors. Bret sounds sincere in his singing and the vocal arrangements are really outstanding throughout the record. His guitar work has really come a long way too – don’t get me wrong, I think he’s always been fantastic – he’s stretching out and entering into musical territory that is altogether different for him, while maintaining the gritty yet melodic style he’s honed over the last several decades.
When all is said and done, I think it is a record the band should be proud of. Unless you’ve done it yourself, nobody understands just what it takes to put a record together, especially a non-computer generated record, and Dogstar have really captured something here.
Selfishly, I hope the band takes another long hiatus so Bret and I can get back to the project we were working on before this Dogstar resurgence, but I am extremely proud of Bret for this one, he did an outstanding job and has made a record that I believe will stand the test of time, like all the best rock and roll records of the past 60-70 years!
Well done gentlemen! Congratulations on some excellent new music!
Thanks for stopping by!
The Boring Old Man 