Los Doggies Ear Op
(Independent, 2017)
The New Paltz institution that is Los Doggies comes straightforward with this four-song release. Well, as straightforward as Los Doggies can get. Laden with counter-rhythms and cascading melodies, the album harkens to some prog-rock foundations: Zappa-esque lead guitar tones, with a dash of King Crimson fuzziness. However, the band leaves out all the pomp and pretension often associated with that genre, favoring a more idiosyncratic indie-rock approach (a la Built to Spill or Pavement). Whereas in the past Los Doggies has utilized basic studio trickery of multi-tracking and layering instrumental and vocal performances, Ear Op is primarily a capturing of an organic live performance. Producer Kevin McMahon, who has proven himself time and again in his knack of capturing and shaping the sound and spirit of many a great rock outfit, was tapped to helm the faders at Marcata Recording for the album, and it is all the better for it. Losdoggies.com.
This article appears in November 2017 Issue.
