Dog Reviews

• Dog. Apropos.

  
  By AQCNKWCWA0MUI on 2004-07-21
  If you liked Mike Keneally's early work like Boil That Dust Speck or Sluggo for its musically varied and often balls-out approach to pop/rock/prog composition, then you probably won't like this CD. While there is some attempt at being edgy by using a heavy toned 7 string guitar on one cut, it just never has that ...balls... that his older stuff had. The quirky collage tracks that used to pepper the earlier CDs are gone too. These are all serious compositions that start and end at the appointed times, something that is a break from the past when an entire 79 minutes of CD space would be somehow or another segued from one piece of musical acrobatics to another. Its...safe. I guess if you don't want to actually be challenged by a Keneally record, but want to hear his voice, this could be for you. I found three tracks that sort of even remotely approximated what I have come to expect from Mike, but stuff like Pride Is A Sin, for all it does have going for it, is still sort of sleepy and lustre-free compared to Backwards Deb or Cause of Breakfast. Now, those were rude and fuzzy. Ditto stuff off the Mistakes CD.
  
  This was done by one cohesive band for the most part, another new development. Alternately performing under the banner of "Mike Keneally," Beer For Dolphins," "Mike Keneally Band," Mike's output has varied as he has tried to find musicians who can really be his own band of players, and now that he has settled on a single group, the music is tight and snappy, but sort of vanilla. His earlier stuff had band lineups changing by the track, with albums being pieced together from tracks played by various combos, session players, all-solo, and sometimes one unified band. To illustrate that, you could buy Sluggo! (billed as Mike Keneally & Beer For Dolphins) and actually have what amounts to a solo album with 3 different rhythm sections (only unified by the presence of Bryan Beller, who is the sole bass player in the band now, but on Sluggo, was basically a session player) coming and going, with some tracks being all solo, and others just being a pastiche of all available talent during the span of recording time. He did do an absolutely solo record with only his name on it (Nonkertompf), but an album later, the band name was Beer For Dolphins once again, and live band was actually recorded at once, with minimal changes. So now, you have the Mike Keneally BAND (the so-called "rude and fuzzy quartet," which isn't rude OR fuzzy) playing a cohesive set of tunes, but it just aint so good...
  
  I have heard all of Mike's output and while this is the best *sounding* of them all in terms of engineering and playing, that alone is not cause to run out a buy a CD. There simply is no spark. It seems that Mike is trying to play it safe in hopes to appeal to a demographic that might be a little wider and less hungry for a musical kick in the nads than the assorted prog/Zappa/guitar hero fans that made up a good deal of his audience for the first decade or so. Maybe he isn't starving anymore. Maybe he doesn't feel the need to prove anything to the world anymore. This seems like he is trying to tap into the Phish audience or something--there is a little more groove to it, the lyrics have a bit more of a sing-songy aspect to them, etc.. There are poppy sounding songs that are all well played, but the sense of adventure doesn't come across on this. It is just not his style, even though a certain few licks (becoming cliches with each passing album) are in abundance. See, Keneally has the imagination and musical prowess (and could hire some serious A-grade players instead of the relatively unheard of guys here) to shred wallpaper at a mile, but it just didn't appear on this album. I think he should stop the pop stuff and go back to the musically gutsy, compositionally distinctive stuff he has done, for that sort of stuff was a place where he alone resided. Who else could compose the Dolphins Medley, or Egg Zooming? I think some of those things are exclusively his, but this album could have been made by any of a number of growing number of bands. Let me put it this way: Mike is in his mid-40s almost, and just aint no Justin Timberlake or Jack Johnson or
  
  I'm just sorry to report that this album hasn't worked out for me. It's Mike Keneally lite, sad to say. If you want to know the essence of MK, get Boil That Dust Speck, Sluggo, Nonkertompf, and Dancing. Also get Wooden Smoke for another side of his wide ranging musical aesthetic. I am curious to see what Mike will do when there is an orchestra playing on his next album. Maybe that would scared up some ideas that don't usually appear in a rock band context.
  
  The above albums are a good indicator of what Keneally can do. Dog isn't. Is it a coincidence that the title is what it is?
  
  
  

• This Dog is Tasty!

  
  By ANFQKS70OJEV9 on 2004-07-23
  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!
  
  

• Well worth the wait

  
  By A38ZNHOJMXWHR2 on 2004-07-28
  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.
  
  

• Maximal Universal Smoothness

  
  By A1ON01SQSBE1XE on 2004-07-29
  I've had a chance to digest Dog, what an incredible block of intricate beauty! There is a maturity to it and and an odd sense of artistic soulful realization, the right words are escaping me. My favorite listening experiences are those that flow, this disk has a lovely universal smoothness that is quite addictive. Bravo, Mike, Rich, Nick and Bryan, bravo indeed.
  
  
  

• On first listen, I'm stunned and pleased

  
  By A32L50TT90TWJG on 2004-08-28
  I've only listened once, and I'm already completely stunned. My only other Keneally CD was Half Alive in Hollywood, which is mostly live, and it's become one of my alltime 2 or 3 favorite releases ever. Though Keneally can do no wrong, I expected that he would have "matured" too much for my liking; I feared it would have too much gloss from the studio. I was afraid to have high hopes. I figured it would take many listens to really appreciate.
  
  This release has it all. Beauty, grandeur, fury, bliss... it's all there. Absolutely stunning work, and this one won't leave my CD player for a LONG time.
  
  
  
  
• Not at all like Wooden Smoke
  By A3ES0YQ6D33G2Z on 2005-01-14
  I found Mike Keneally via his association with Frank Zappa, and immediately fell in love with Wooden Smoke when it came out. I still listen to it all the time. My expectation was to find more of the same in Dog, but it's almost unrecognizable if all you know is Wooden Smoke.
  
  Dog is definitely not a dog, but it echoes so much Zappa weirdness and acrobatic power of late King Crimson that it's hard to hear the beautiful voice that Mike brought us in Wooden Smoke. It's almost as if he is trying to prove his standing alongside those greats with this release. While he definitely proves his standing to me, the feeling that he's trying to is a bit of a detractor.
  
  Dog stands on its own, but I long for less power and more storytelling. Mike, are you listening?
  
  
• Amazing
  By A339IE87G18AJ1 on 2005-02-17
  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!!
  
  
  
• Amazing!
  By ATGGWNT2LQXJL on 2004-07-10
  Mike Keneally is a giant. From his original mail-order tapes (an amazing collection), to his steady stream of remarkable CDs, Mike has never fallen sort of amazing. It would be easy to spend hours on each release. For now, let's just say that he's hit an all time high not only for himself, but for any release in memory. Not only is the music wonderful, moving, insightful, and fun, but the sound is fresh and driven.

  I am especially amazed at the cohesiveness of the CD and the DVD. Never have I seen this type of wholeness in music. By the time I listened and watched and then repeated a few times, I knew that a new standard had been created that very few would be able to touch.

  This doesn't mean that his music is no more than a fun or easy listen. On one level this is true, which is just what you'd want, but don't stay there! Get into the deep end, let the music pull you under, let the movement push and pull you, and don't be afraid of the undercurrent! Instead of drowning, you'll feel more alive than ever!

  There's no way to sum up the gift that Mike has given us other than saying we owe him a load of gratitude! Buy Dog, (get the special release that has the DVD), and then go back and get his other releases. Even the ones with Zappa!

  You'll be glad you did!
  
  

• Worth the Wait
  By A1BN03GRDV5J5N on 2004-07-28
  Dog is another great CD from Mike. He writes from the gut and it shows. This is certainly the hardest rocking Keneally CD in my opinion. From the opening chord of Louie it grabs you by the head and takes you on a musical journey akin to a cross-country drive, no landscape the same and all of it wonderfully surprising. Bober and Splane are light-hearted romps thru the life of said DOG, complete with a Conrad Bain reference. Pride is a Sin is not only a fantastic musical composition the lyrics give you some food for thought in making Mike's (and perhaps your) corner of the world a little nicer. And just as you're starting to relax and enjoy the ride with the tasty acoustic tune Simple Pleasure, Physics jumps out and (as Kenealliacs are fond of saying) rips your head off. The pace continues with Raining Sound, but the best outright guitar solo resides in Choosing to Drown, another rocker that gets you ready for the epic "This Tastes like a Hotel". Panda - the final track - sends you off with a love song suitable for your dining and dancing pleasure. Mike experiments with a variety of sounds and instruments from Guitarp in the opening track, to the very tasteful and complex effects in Physics with some amazing slide, bozuki and effect work by Rick Mussallum. Nick D'Virgilio (Spock's Beard / NDV) and Bryan Beller (whose new CD View is on Amazon) lay down a tremendous rhythm foundation for Mike's compositions. Rick Mussallum does a fantastic job of complimenting Mike's amazing guitar work. Rick and Mike lay down some of the tastiest guitar work I've heard in years - their playing style compliments and enhances what the other guy is doing. Over all the guitar work has enough catchy riffs, great tone and layers to make this a great guitar-driven effort. Frank didn't call him the best new guy ever for nothing - Keneally and his supporting cast absolutely hit this one out of the park.
  
  
• What a year for Keneally!
  By A1Y7S7VSWT1E3Y on 2004-12-27
  A fifty piece orchestra jam and a tight, little rock and roll band. I can't think of anybody who's put out two such high quality albums out in the same year. "Dog" shows off Keneally's quirky sense of humor while you're reaching for the volume knob to get more of his snarling guitar. It's amazing power pop yet no two tracks come close to sounding the same. It rewards repeated listening and gets in your head and stays there. Mike Keneally deserves to be more than a cool little secret that music lovers with eclectic taste keep amongst themselves. Get em Mike!
  
  

• The Universe Will Provide
• Wooden Smoke
• Dancing
• Boil That Dust Speck (Remastered)
• hat. (Expanded and Remastered)