Some bands don’t get the kind of love they deserve. Other bands get the kind of love they definitely don’t deserve. The latest release from Dog Day; Night Group, suggests that these kids deserve a little more lovin’ than they’re receiving. Just a little more.
The Canadian quartet isn’t the most audacious band you’ll come across, but they’re certainly not a band consisting of plain people with plain plans. Theirs is a sound of the ultra pop variety; the kind of music that will always remind you of happy times, even if you’re in a not-so happy state of mind.
Dog Day began as a project for Seth Smith, who generated some tunes on his Mac, recorded said tunes onto CDs and handed those fifteen CDs to fifteen people. Since then, Smith’s long-time girlfriend Nancy Urich has boarded the bandwagon, joining the likes of husband and wife duo; KC Spidle and Crystal Thili. From the humble beginnings of cost-effective production, the group has recently been adopted by German label Tomlab, who have indulged them with a multi-million dollar studio at their fingertips.
Clear production, playful pop and simple songs define Night Group. Beginning with the sweetly optimistic Lydia, Dog Day showcase themselves immediately as a mishmash of fetching guitar riffs, simplistic beats, the hum of a keyboard and the clear-cut voice of Smith, who is occasionally accompanied by the innocent harmonies of Urich.
The band plough on with some mildly explosive numbers along the way. Lyrics fail to loose their lightness, despite touching on some fearsome themes. Know Who You Are is filled with a synth charm that thankfully fails to fall into the realm of the tacky eighties. Great Pains is filled with a quirkiness unfound on any other tracks.
Dog Day have a respectfully naive attitude to composition that somehow doesn’t make them seem juvenile. The collective know too well that overcooking something doesn’t necessarily make it taste better. Instrumentals aren’t overdone, ideas aren’t confusing and songs aren’t longer than they need to be.
Similarities with Dog Day and a slew of other bands are unavoidable. There’s a little bit of that Cure charm, there’s a little bit of that Smiths schtick, and there’s even a little bit of that novel Shout Out Loud sweetness.
There’s nothing prodigious about Night Group, but there is something pleasant about it. You may like Dog Day, but you won’t love them. Save your heart for someone else.
Check out the clip for Lydia
