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Rating: The Sick Puppies are Shimon Moore (vocals and guitar), Emma Anzai (bass), and Mark Goodwin (drums), an Australian band that is almost unknown in Italy, but is having decent success in the United States. I discovered them, like many who know them, through "All the Same" — a song that served as the background for the famous "free hugs" video on YouTube.
"Dressed Up As Life" is their second album. An album of pure traditional rock style. It opens with "My World", which perfectly introduces the style of the Australian band. It's one of the best songs on the album, from which a video was also made, featuring a nice guitar solo at the end. It continues with "Pitiful" and "Cancer", two blatantly rocking songs. "What Are You Looking For" is the first of the three rock ballads, presenting very impactful melodic lines. The fifth track is "Deliverance", where you can hear the distortions of Emma Anzai, nicknamed "the female Flea". It's an exaggerated comparison, but it is definitely unusual to see a girl so skilled on bass, a true rarity in this genre of music. If you are prone to tears, now is the time to arm yourself with tissues: the sixth track is the splendid "All the Same", the second ballad, where Moore's voice is beautifully accompanied by the acoustic guitar. A true power song that would be perfect as the soundtrack of a tear-jerking romantic movie. And still for the romantics, the album continues with "Too Many Words", a beautiful song with a melody similar to the previous one, very delicate until the other instruments come into play, revolving around the melody, unleashing an accelerated riff, and ending in a crescendo.
The eighth track is "Howard's Tale", a mix of blues and alternative rock. Listening to "Asshole Father", the ninth track, feels like listening again to "Too Many Words"; a formula repeated far too many times within the album, becoming too predictable. "Issues" is instead the hardest song, a blazing pure hard rock. The penultimate track is "Anywhere But Here", a song that could have easily been left out, as it adds nothing new to the album. And finally, for those who love rock with a capital R, comes "The Bottom" which summarizes the band's energetic and immediate style.
All in all, I absolutely recommend this well-played rock album. The excellent alternation between moments of calm and pure rock energy is the fundamental characteristic of this CD, which is enjoyable from the first to the last minute.
This is my first review, I gladly accept criticisms and suggestions.
Review by Davide Di Franco
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 My World (03:59)
I'm not comin' back
I'm not gonna' react
I'm not doin' shit for you
I'm not sitting around
While you're tearing it down around us
I'm not living a lie
While you swim in denial
'Cause you're already dead and gone
You'll leave me out on the curb
Just like everyone else before you
Welcome to my world
Where everyone I ever need
Always ends up leaving me alone
Another lesson burned
And I'm drowning in the ashes
Kicking
Screaming
Welcome to my world
I don't care what you think
I'm not seeing a shrink
I'm not doing this again
I'm not another
Student or another
To take your shit out on
So let's see what you got
And let's see what you're not
And whatever else you pretend
You've defended my intentions
Long enough
Welcome to my world
Where everyone I ever need
Always ends up leaving me alone
Another lesson burned
And I'm drowning in the ashes
Kicking
Screaming
Welcome to my world
So here I am again
In the middle of the end
And the choice I wish I'd made
I always make too late
Welcome to my world
Where everyone I ever need
Always ends up leaving me alone
Another lesson burned
And I'm drowning in the ashes
Kicking
Screaming
Welcome to my world
02 Pitiful (03:44)
Made the toast
Burned the eggs
Never got the hang of them
Just another other day
Caught the bus
Forgot the change
Looks like I'll be late again
Hopefully they won't complain
My life's so pitiful
Give me one good reason why I shouldn't end it all
If there's a reason then I haven't found it yet
And I try every drug I find
Except maybe heroin and cyanide
But there's a reason I just can't afford it yet.
Oh, it's just another overdose.
Went to work
Saw you there
But you never seem to care
For a single thing I say
I set my clock and went to sleep
This anxiety I'll keep
Through another fuckin' day.
Looks like that's all today, I'm dyin'
My life's so pitiful
Give me one good reason why I shouldn't end it all
If there's a reason then I haven't found it yet
And I try every drug I find
Except maybe heroin and cyanide
But there's a reason I just can't afford it yet.
Oh, it's just another overdose
My life's so pitiful
Pitiful
Pitiful
Pitiful
Pitiful
My life's so pitiful
Give me one good reason why I shouldn't end it all
If there's a reason then I haven't found it yet
And I try every drug I find
Except maybe heroin and cyanide
But there's a reason I just can't afford 'em yet.
My life's so pitiful
My life's so pitiful
My life's so pitiful
I'm DYING!
05 Deliverance (03:12)
Waiting for another line
Cause you throw them at me all the time
Gotta get away from all her lies
And I gotta get away from mine
Tell me where to go
When fate won't deliver
Cause I can't forgive her
When I let her know
This pain I've been living
Will her next collision be me
Brings situation down
And her temper's always on the rise
I'm living what I've seen before
Well I won't take this anymore
It's time to hold this to the light
Tell me where to go
When fate won't deliver
Cause I can't forgive her
When I let her know
This pain I've been living
Will her next collision be me
Cause her mental prison is not my decision
So I'm cutting my losses this time
I'm no longer living through her tunnel vision
Tell me where to go
When fate won't deliver
Cause I can't forgive her
When I let her know
This pain I've been living
Will her next collision be me
Gotta get away from
Gotta get away
Gotta get away this time
Tell me where to go
When fate won't deliver
Cause I can't forgive her
When I let her know
This pain I've been living
Will her next collision be me
09 Asshole Father (03:00)
I waited for you yesterday
I waited and missed the last train
I waited to say that I'd fallen in love with your way
I waited for you yesterday
Eventually walked home in the rain
I waited to see if you felt the same for me
But you don't,
And you won't
Go against your ass old father
Going broke,
Quitting dope
For your folks
Why did I even bother?
Why did I?
I waited for minds to change
Pointing their fingers of blame
It's not my fault you're ashamed of how you feel
But you don't,
And you won't
Go against your ass old father
Going broke,
Quitting dope
For your folks
Why did I even bother?
Why did I?
Cause you don't
Just admit it
Cause you won't
Just admit it
Just admit it
Just admit it
Just admit it
Just admit it
I called you a whore and down your door
And how could I heal when you won't even feel?
But you don't and you won't
Go against your ass old father
Going broke,
Quitting dope
For your folks
Why did I even bother?
Why did I?
But you don't cause your nothing but
Broken down daddy's little daughter
AREN'T CHA?!!
Going broke,
Quitting dope
For your folks
Why did I even bother?
Why did I?
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