Pick of the Week #26: Dog Day

This album, Concentration, by Halifaxian band Dog Day has been steadily growing on me over the past couple of months. Its certainly taken a few mentions from some different blogs, a number of listens, but I've come to the conclusion that DD is some sort of bizzaro version of Stars (not, sissy In Our Bedroom After the War, Stars; but awesome Heart and Set Yourself on Fire, Stars).

Its entirely possible - nay, probable - that this isn't a fair (or accurate!) description, but something about the boy-girl dynamic, the catchy, poppy, hooky, nature of the vocals and composition recalls the best parts of what Stars did through the mid 00s. Of course, DD is not Stars. No. One only need to look at the album art (or this google images search "dog day band") that there is something slightly darker about the band, and its not just their hair colour! When I say "darker" it could just be the use of minor chords(?), because underneath that dark visage/hair they are still a catchy, poppy, hooky kind of boy-girl indie rock-pop band. And a very good one at that.

That said, there's something missing from Concentration that doesn't quite bring it over the hump to make it a pantheon level album the way that Set Yourself on Fire is. I'm not sure whether its a lack of contrast between the songs, the lack of a real 'knock you on your ass' single - although "Rome" is a pretty spectacular song that might be better than anything on SYOF, or just a lack of big label/Pitchfork type buzz surrounding the band. The shame of it all is that this is the type of music that I think is appealing to a pretty substantial cross-section of the public, should be on the radio, and not enough people will hear this record. So, do me a solid, listen to the mp3 and pass it on to a friend....

[mp3] Dog Day - Rome

"Happiness"


"Oh Dead Life" from Night Group [2007]

Pick of the Week #1: Ketch Harbour Wolves
Pick of the Week #2: Rah Rah
Pick of the Week #3: Glasvegas/Animal Collective
Pick of the Week #4: Bruce Peninsula
Pick of the Week #5: The Antlers
Pick of the Week #6: The Darcys
Pick of the Week #7: Ohbijou
Pick of the Week #8: Gentlemen Husbands
Pick of the Week #9: Chris Whitley
Pick of the Week #10: Alela Diane
Pick of the Week #11: K'naan
Pick of the Week #12: TOR/Sufjan Stevens
Pick of the Week #13: Timber Timbre
Pick of the Week #14: Justis
Pick of the Week #15: Hibiscus & Rosehips Compilation
Pick of the Week #16: Patrick Watson
Pick of the Week #17: Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
Pick of the Week #18: The Liptonians
Pick of the Week #19: Sunparlour Players
Pick of the Week #20: Black Hat Brigade
Pick of the Week #21: Howie Beck
Pick of the Week #22: Pink Mountaintops
Pick of the Week#23: Still Life Still
Pick of the Week #24: Hayden
Pick of the Week #25: Snailhouse