The Golden Dogs
Coat Of Arms

THE REVIEW

Black people have rhythm in their blood, the English have tea, Canadians have indie (no racism intended). Want a demonstration? Check out the Golden Dogs, yet another excellent band emerging from the herds of caribou scattered among the snow-covered maples.
The Toronto quintet, on their third album, confirms itself as a happy island of pure old school pop that doesn't shy away from more modern choral elements cleverly disguised. The grace of bands like these lies entirely in avoiding sounding anonymous; thus, when listening to quietly beautiful records like this, the prevailing sentiment is wonder. The Golden Dogs sound like thousands of bands and, at the same time, like no one else, managing to chart new courses on paths already marked by time. You might hear the B-52s alongside the usual Beatles, Radiohead, Queen, Grandaddy, or Wilco. Two former band members (who also recorded this album) are, coincidentally, part of Zeus, another great rock surprise from North America.

Don't be superficial in your approach to the golden hounds. Let yourself be disoriented, savor a melting pot of exquisite arrangements, fun yet never trivial riffs, energetic rhythms, and stuttering keyboards. It's clear that these musicians love what they compose with every cell of their being from the soul that frontman Dave Azzolini puts into his shouts.
Starting with the irreverent power-soul “Dear Francis”, continuing with “Dark Room” reminiscent of the dEUS that once were, the graceful surf twist of “As Long as You Like”, and culminating with “Weapon”, a masterpiece that magically blends sweetness and rage. Then comes the dark hues of “Cheap Umbrellas”, similar to those of post-punk bands like the Long Blondes. Melodic and acidic atmospheres envelop “Travel Time” and “Underwater Goldmine” respectively. Bringing us back to carefree vibes are “Lester” with a chorus that seems to come out of “Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons” and “When The Movie’s Over”, where Gwen Stefani seems to sing for the Throwing Muses. “Burst”...and the early No Doubt? Come on, let's keep jumping and experimenting with “Permanent Record”.

Enjoy every second of this beautiful CD. It may be outdated, it may be whatever you want, but more simply, it's unmissable.