Indie Power-pop act, The Golden Dogs, set their sights on broadening their audience south of the border as they get set to release their initial release on Yep Roc, titled Big Eye Little Eye. The Dogs feature a husband and wife combo, Dave Azzolin and Jessica Grassia that share the vocal responsibilities. And in spite of being married, they have a nice chemistry and show off great harmonies. Grassia, in particular really struck a chord with me as I find myself constantly looking forward to her entrance into each tune.

The album immediately draws you in with the rocking “Dynamo.” The Dogs then do a 180 and kick out an 80’s pop tune in “Never Meant Any Harm” that would seem to fit in Molly Ringwald film, circa 1987. A couple more strong tunes ensue including my personal favorite “Saint At The Gates” which reminds me of some early quirk Genesis, and “Run Outta Luck” which is another tune in which Grassia really shines.

From there the disc kinda hits a lull for a couple of tunes. But then is shaken awake by a top-notch cover of The Wings’ “Nineteen Hundred And Eighty-Five” that would make Macca himself smile. The overall sound is a quirky, pop sound that has just enough edge and vocal harmonies that makes The Golden Dogs stand out in the crowd.

The Golden Dogs - Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five

The Golden Dogs - Never Meant Any Harm

The Golden Dogs - Construction Worker

A couple of years ago, while catching Dax Riggs’ prior band deadboy & The Elephantman at Lollapalooza, I commented to my buddy that I though Dax was a little left of normal. He responded that he didn’t think Dax got out in the daylight very often.

Two years later and Dax’s first solo release arrived at my place. One look at the cover and some of the song titles and I’m confident that my original assessment was right or, at the very least, Dax belongs to a couple of interesting book clubs.

Normal, a little odd, or completely fucked out of his head, Dax Riggs is one talented musician and songwriter. Much like his deadboy compositions, We Only Sing Of Blood and Love is rooted in the blues. Where deadboy was just Dax and a drummer, his solo debut has a much fuller sound and has Dax joined by a more traditional band named The Black Clown, with guitar, bass and drums. The full band certainly agrees with him as this album allows his unique voice a number of nooks to truly work its way comfortably around the music.

The second tune, “Didn’t Know Yet What I Knew When I Was Bleeding” begins

Melt a Puppet on The String
Along The Vortex Weeping
Lord, Have You Heard The Roar and Dragon Neath the Virgin
Didn’t Know Yet What I Knew When I Was Bleeding

The tune has a slow, bluesy burn to it like Dax is ready to explode. Those same lyrical sytlings are pretty consistent throughout the album. They are dark, explore death and have a few mentions of the netherworld. Not one song lasts more than three minutes. It is a swampy blues collection that belongs in any music lover’s collection. Overall, I’m loving this disc. Whereas deadboy’s disc was inconsistent in parts, We Only Sing Of Blood and Love is top-notch from beginning to end.

Dax Riggs at Lollapalooza - “Ghost Movement”