album review
Dogs At Large
My Epiphone
Self Release
December 4th, 2020
Dogs At Large bring us another 2020 release with My Epihpone, departing slightly from their psychedelic sounds for a more synthy, experimental indie rock collection. Sitting at just over 30 minutes with 13 tracks, Dogs At Large curated their catalog of pandemic demos into a more refined effort of musical exploration.
The title track kicks off with a short instrumental lead into “Dominoes,” a melodic tune of singing guitar solos over acoustic chords, that ponders life’s little moments of impatience. Following suit from their last album, Sam Pirruccello uses simple yet clever lyricism to explore existential themes. “Grapes Stuck On The Vine” is a standout example of this strength, where softness meets depth: ‘Sing on, sing on little dove / death itself sips you like wine / making love in all the wrong situations / like grapes stuck on the vine.’
“Shelter in Place” is the first of a few Covid themed tunes, a quick synthy minute and eight that laments the more whimsical woes of pandemic life. “COVID-19” explores a trancey, eccentric midi instrumental sound; an audio-only epitome of the term ‘self-isolation’, you can almost picture him writing alone in his bedroom. While “Tale of Corbin” is a story song, donning medieval choruses and a triumphant beat break reminiscent of a modern rock opera. The album closes out with the slow burn, “Mystery Deepens,” a thought-provoking Smiths-esque tune that delivers a touch of psychedelia that I seemed to crave by the collection’s end. Dogs At Large deliver a wonderful pandemic project, suited for fans of Pavement, Twin Peaks, Portugal. The Man , and Built to Spill, and is out now for purchase on bandcamp and via major streaming platforms.
-Live photos by Tina Mead at Empty Bottle and Goose Island Block Party