Dogs On Acid

Dogs On Acid (2015)

RENALDO69

Dogs On Acid embody a lot of Philly and it's been pretty obvious in how their four band members contributed to the emo revival over there. They've all been part of bands like Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing and last but not least, Glocca Morra, and as Joe Reinhart (Hop Along's current guitarist) has shown, no matter how far they wander from each other, they'll always have a unique stamp on the city's music scene. Fellow guitarist and vocalist, Peter Helmis, shows immense growth from his Algernon days on this record, as he gets more personal and more so, ties a lot of his lyrics into relationships and how life's turns have treated him. The end result? Bouncy pop. Breezy punk. An indie record that's (as cliched as it is) loads of fun!

Most of the tracks on tap feel like light summer anthems. "Flushed" (which should sound familiar after being released on a previous 7") is a prime example which emerges as a mix of Superchunk and Built To Spill. I like how they wear their influences on their sleeves but still manage to pin things down with their own flavour. They channel a lot of '90s college rock into the record a la Archers of Loaf (on "The Prick") but Reinhart's production firms up little idiosyncracies brought in from the other parent bands pretty sweetly. You feel their presence subtly but no matter what, it's obvious that Dogs On Acid is its own thing. The hazy, distorted "Ideal Decanter" is another standout in its restless nature, much alike so many of the mid-tempo indie jams on display. Despite sounding generic at times, there are moments where Reinhart and co. cut loose and take things up a notch, giving off a more bubbly, fresh and compelling sound. I still can't help but gloss over a few tracks which I feel redundant. That said, it's not enough to throw you off the trail that badly.

"Sun Bleached" sees Helmis take a surly tone - one which hints at a very bitter loneliness in his words. In fact, his approach here is a stark indication of how his writing has evolved. It's more direct and less vague as per his older work. Slow, bouncy, emotional threads appear further down the line on songs like "9 Times" and the moody "No Trigger" which don't make the record the easiest to categorize. But it's a pleasure swimming in this confusion because these musicians explore a vast array of sounds and with their talent, trust me, you're in good hands coming along for the ride. The warm DIY melodies on this self-titled punctuate just that. This collection's a great foundation and promises much more to come. The band has an old-school vibe to them but what they accomplish here is something contemporaries and peers will surely be taking note of. Given the lineup though, are you really that surprised?