All Dogs – Kicking Every Day

By Ryan G

Words: Ryan Getz

It’s been said that all dogs go to heaven. With my childhood dog having recently departed, I wonder if this is true? Also, is this what the band All Dogs derives its name from?

The band has a sound that has been described as pop punk. Emotive indie rock might be a better term. Maryn Jones’ vocals are very emotive, and sing of angst ridden theme much of the time. Ironic, considering the high tempo, driving music, and a name that evokes something that generally brings a smile to people’s faces. A bittersweet smile, but nonetheless a smile.

Come to think of it, perhaps that’s what All Dogs is all about. Taking us to that bittersweet place between rock and roll adrenaline and the cathartic expression of negative emotions.

That said, this is a gripping, driving record that ought to not fly under the radar. The only band that comes to mind when listening to these guys and gals is Now, Now – more for the feel of the music than the actual genre or structure. All Dogs have come about as close as you can in the genres of pop punk and indie rock these to creating a new sound that will be influencing bands for years to come.

Kicking Every Day is neither flashy right away nor a grower. My initial reaction to Kicking Every Day is not one of “holy crap whoa this is awesome” nor an “eh, let’s give it a few more listens.” I’m not blown away at first, but there’s this almost intangible something that simply compels me to listen again.

There are a few standout tracks. “That Kind of Girl” is about as massive as the band gets on the album, and a clear indicator to me from the get go that I was going to enjoy the rest. “The Garden” ventures close to Maryn’s other project Saintseneca, with its brooding acoustic guitar strumming. “Black Hole” is an interesting choice of song to kick off a band’s debut LP – not terribly huge in sound, but a nice indicator of the style of the band – loud pop rock that’s rough around the edges. The music sounds real – not over-produced.

Kicking Every Day, if critics pay attention, should be acknowledged as a breakout release of 2015.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/214581401″ /]

Score: 4.3/5

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