Dogs Die in Hot Cars
January 13th, 2005I like the Dogs Die in Hot Cars album, Please Describe Yourself (thanks, Justin). It fills a hole in my heart left by XTC, who haven’t released a studio recording in years (the last thing I heard was Andy Partridge’s theme song for the DOA Fox show Wonderfalls). Specifically, it provides, in the absence of XTC, the requisite amount of staccato vocals, quirky lyrics, jerky music, infectious energy and beautiful harmonies to make me happy.
That is not to say that their vocals, lyrics, music, energy, or harmonies are as good as XTC. It’s not the same. Also, they sound like a variety of other bands; the Dexys Midnight Runners influence is obvious. But they are what they are. If I ever sound like this, please shoot me.
January 13th, 2005 at 10:25 am
So you have those last two XTC CDs after Nonesuch? And what about the Fuzzy Warbles project from Andy Partridge? He’s got 6 CDs of material out, of mixed quality, but definitely worth checking out.
Jeff
January 13th, 2005 at 10:32 am
Yeah, but Fuzzy Warbles is all demos of old stuff. I do have the two Apple Venus albums, but they have been in an argument with Virgin and haven’t released anything new since 2000 — since then, they’ve pulled the ol’ contractual obligation trick and have released only instrumental and demo versions of the Apple Venus albums.
January 13th, 2005 at 10:35 am
You’re welcome! Glad you like it. I have those two Apple Venus volumes as well - I prefer the first to the second.
January 13th, 2005 at 11:13 am
I think they’re both great, but I like the second one slightly better because of songs like “We’re All Light” and “You And The Clouds Will Still Be Beautiful.”