Emerge

Dog Society was born in the 90’s during the rock explosion that brought bands like Dishwalla, Candlebox, and Third Eye Blind to the forefront of their genre. The band spent much of their time touring in support of their debut album Test Your Own Eyes. Along the road the band has opened for a diverse collection of familiar names from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones to Sheryl Crow to Stone Temple Pilots. Now nearly twenty years later the band releases their follow up, Emerge. 

 

I had no idea what to expect from Dog Society when I first turned on their album. Was it going to be rock, country, pop, metal? I had no clue. Then the album began, the strum of guitar strings, the underlying bass, then the kick of the drums to bring us into our journey. Good old fashioned rock. Also my attention was immediately pulled towards the fantastic production of the music. Very crisp, each instrument shining through, vocals clear but not overpowering. The experience of Rob Schnaapf and Tom Rothrock (Beck, Elliott Smith), producers on the bands first album, gives the album a very nice, well rounded sound. 

 

My first go round with Emerge I took notice of all the influence in their sound from Tom Petty to The Beatles to even a grunge flare among their sound. Despite the music speaking for itself I was enamored by the influential traits of the bands familiar sound. Sometimes the influence is there in a big way, hear Pink Sun and its Beatles heavy sound, or Suffer A Smile with its Bleach era Nirvana-like sound, and sometimes you just get caught up in the bands amazing dynamic. 

 

It’s obvious Dog Society has becomes a tight musical unit, having played together for so long. The music just seems to come together perfectly from the smooth diverse guitar sound, the intricate drum patterns interweaving with the bass, and lead singer Brian Schnaak providing a voice with incredible range that’s emphasized even more so by the rest of the bands backing vocals. This album is all about experience on the technical front and a very easy on the ears approach for any listener. I highly suggest checking out the album at the bands bandcamp page, then if you like get yourself a copy. Good stuff. Enjoy.