Search - Mike Keneally Band :: Dog

Well worth the wait

Christopher Ingalls | Massachusetts | 07/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It seems that, for the last several years of his 12 year solo recording career, Mike tries a new approach with almost every album. Nonkertompf was an instrumental, experimental free-for-all; Dancing was a bid for big-band power-pop; Wooden Smoke was a rich acoustic interlude; and now we have Dog, Mike's first album in almost three years. Here, the emphasis is simply putting out a good, solid rock album. Guitar, bass, drums and just a splash of keyboards. Guess what? He's done it again.



Louie is a strong opener with crunchy guitars and typical nonsensical Keneally lyrics and strange time signatures. Splane shifts gears with a light, catchy, acoustic-driven pop song. Raining Sound has a good, early-XTC ska feel. And let's not forget This Tastes Like a Hotel, Mike's 15-minute epic of weirdness. It sounds like a huge Nonkertompf outtake and is never boring during its gargantuan length.



It's kinda all over the map, but certainly no more than previous Keneally releases. Guitars are definitely up front (thanks to Mike's superb playing and that of Rick Musallam), but are framing stong melodic compositions. Besides Rick and Mike, Dog also features Bryan Beller on bass and Nick D'Virgilio on drums. Mike Keneally seems to mature and gain focus with every new release and this is yet another chapter in his unique, exciting musical career. Although he's known in prog rock circles, this album would definitely be appropriate for your average rock fan. It'll certainly give your CD collection some class."

This Dog is Tasty!

lildustspeck | Cincinnati, OH | 07/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll let others more skillful than I provide the song-by-song analysis. I want to share my overall impressions of Mike Keneally's recent CD, "Dog".



I thought with "Dancing" and "Wooden Smoke" that I had reached a pinnacle of Mikey-goodness. Surely the man couldn't write an album that I liked as consistently as those two. I was wrong because I like "Dog" even more. And what is even more amazing - that's just on the first few listens. Mike Keneally's music is so textured that once you get used to one layer, another surfaces to engross your brain. It's hard to imagine creating something with phenomenal guitar that's also funky, crunchy, melodic, jazzy, fluid AND have it come out sounding solid and cohesive - but they nailed it on this album.



Not only does the time fly as this album plays, but you can tell the guys are having FUN. Mr. atticus wolrab provides glimpses through the artwork, but for a deeper look into the band and the music you need to get the special edition. The DVD includes live performances, rehearsals, and a few "classic Mike" sillies. I just love watching their expressions as they play. Bliss!



Mike has been blessed to work with many excellent musicians along the way, but the four men in the Mike Keneally Band seem to have developed extrasensory perception as they work together so tightly. Bryan Beller is a bass master, and I don't mean fish... Nick D'Virgilio is a monster on the drums and Rick Musallam plays some mighty tasty guitar throughout this album. Mike is nothing short of amazing, as usual.



If you are new to the Keneally world, I recommend you try the "Dog" first. I love it so much, I'm having Dog-Dog-Dog and Dog!"

Amazing

WillieB | 02/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is no doubt the best album of 2004. Interesting, fun, truly original music performed by four extremely talented musicians.



From the rocking "Louie", to the in your face "Pride Is a Sin", or reggae rhythms of "Raining Sound", the jazzy groove on "Gravity Grab", or the perfect pop song "Splane" there is something for everyone on this CD. For me, the 15+ minute "This Tastes Like a Hotel" is out of my league, but it's growing on me.



The special edition CD/DVD of Dog offers some incredible live footage that verifies Mike is one of the best guitar players ever. Simply amazing!!

"