Leatherface - Dog Disco
I was a bit surprised to see another Leatherface album come out as I thought they just had that one-off reunion album to capitalize on their new found fame after their split with Hot Water Music.
Like that last album, "Horsebox", this one finds Leatherface exploring their slower, softer side while trying to retain some of the passion and energy of their earlier work. Just like "Horsebox"
there are some energetic cuts spread throughout the record but there's also a slew of indistinguishable mid-paced cuts that are hard to tell apart from one another.
I'm sure some people prefer the softer stuff, a sort of booze soaked ballad/pub rock type of fare but, as past albums have proven, Frankie Stubbs tack-gargling voice is best delivered raw and angry over a similar type of music. On some of these songs he sounds like an old drunk guy crooning songs in the background of some smoked filled bar....hardly the razor edged melodic punk rock these guys used to crank out.
That's not to say this is a throw away album. It's by far their most consistent effort from start to finish, the slower songs are still catchy, with lots of Police type lead guitar riffs sprinkled throughout, and the more rocking ones keep you interested. Of course there is one really great song, "Rabbit Pie Alibi", which, ironically, is once again it's not sung by Frankie Stubbs. I'm not sure why they always give the one throwback song to the new guy but they do. He's actually not that bad of a singer just nothing like the raw throated Frankie.
On the whole this album doesn't quite pack the punch of their last one and doesn't even come close to their early work but it's got a consistent feel that's sure to put a smile on Leatherface fans even if it's not their best work. Still, it's a little disappointing to think these guys aren't going to crank out another album of the type of punk rock that made them famous and inspired so many of the great bands today.
I'm sure some people prefer the softer stuff, a sort of booze soaked ballad/pub rock type of fare but, as past albums have proven, Frankie Stubbs tack-gargling voice is best delivered raw and angry over a similar type of music. On some of these songs he sounds like an old drunk guy crooning songs in the background of some smoked filled bar....hardly the razor edged melodic punk rock these guys used to crank out.
That's not to say this is a throw away album. It's by far their most consistent effort from start to finish, the slower songs are still catchy, with lots of Police type lead guitar riffs sprinkled throughout, and the more rocking ones keep you interested. Of course there is one really great song, "Rabbit Pie Alibi", which, ironically, is once again it's not sung by Frankie Stubbs. I'm not sure why they always give the one throwback song to the new guy but they do. He's actually not that bad of a singer just nothing like the raw throated Frankie.
On the whole this album doesn't quite pack the punch of their last one and doesn't even come close to their early work but it's got a consistent feel that's sure to put a smile on Leatherface fans even if it's not their best work. Still, it's a little disappointing to think these guys aren't going to crank out another album of the type of punk rock that made them famous and inspired so many of the great bands today.
