Formed by New York City natives, Bruce Erik Brauer (guitar), Guerzon (Bass) and Joe Ranieri (Drums and Percussion), Dog Society found the ultimate mouth-piece in Colorado based vocalist Brian Schnaak. Dog Society blasted through Test Your Own Eyes, their Atlantic Records / EastWest debut with a refreshing style and sound that established them an identity of their own.
Now after almost 2 decades Dog Society returns from a self-imposed hiatus to release their long awaited independent 2nd album, Emerge. The band who took their name from the Hidatsa Indian Tribes and opened for acts like, Sheryl Crow, Stone Temple Pilots and Mighty Mighty Bosstones, return to showcase their musical prowess under the co-production of Rob Schnaapf and Tom Rothrock.
The Emerge album from Dog Society is a pop-psychedelic-rock effort that is definitely a defining moment for all participating members. It is a most revealing and focused album for the veteran rockers and it is definitely an ambitious indie effort yet.
Being Here is a perfect opener that puts everything out on the table atmospherically for the album. Filled with their trademark guitars and offbeat riffs, this mid-tempo psychedelic track just takes you for a ride from start to finish. Intense harmonies and pauses make this a dynamical treat. It sets the precedent for the whole album.
From there on and throughout the ensuing 11 tracks, Dog Society show why they are a blessing to modern rock n’ roll, a group who doesn’t succumb and conform to all the bland trends found so prominently in today’s music.
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Dog Society possesses an extremely tight-knit sound that mixes melody with true grit at free will. The guitars often first come in spurts, which develop into oceans of sound, while the drums and bass click away with abandon and precision, supporting the crystal-clear vocal deliveries.
The cryptic jangly guitars and psychedelic vibe to songs like “The Fuse Before,” “Scraped,” “Pink Sun,” “Suffer a Smile” and “Aleja” all hearken back to a historical rock age when bands like the Doors and the Grateful Dead, The Byrds, The Yardbyrds and King Crimson ruled. Not that these guys copy or sound like those bands by a longshot; it’s just that Dog Society has an aura to its modern rock sound, very reminiscent of where those epic bands came from.
Power pop also makes a huge appearance on “Spoken Word,” and “Daymare,” “Salt” and “A Good Friend” are all potential modern pop-rock hits. Simply put, Dog Society can’t be pinned down to any one sound, as they display a broad range of musical tastes, and their willingness to expand on those tastes.
From its sheer rock muscle to the pop and psychedelic fare, the whole album works together to really give a kick up the pants to today’s bland rock music polluting the air. It’s a blistering synergy of music that is original, fresh, fun and untouchably classic in its approach. A must for rock connoisseurs!
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