DOGPARK – AN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT AND EP REVIEW
Photo credit: Ilona Donovan
By Ralph Beauchamp
Dogpark is a four piece indie ensemble based out of NYC. The band just released (1/30) their new six song EP entitled Corporate Pudding via Severance Records/Big Loud Rock. Dogpark is comprised of Eamon Moore (Lead Vocals), Christian Conte (Drums), Declan Harris (Lead Guitar) and Billy Apostolou (Bass/Guitar). Dogpark’s music feels like it was written on a fire escape at dusk. Their music combines the energy and power of the big city with the subtleness of a glorious sunset.
Dogpark‘s songs have a a sense intimacy that sneaks up on you. It’s as if you wandered into a conversation already halfway finished and decided to stay. Sonically, Dogpark lives in the sweet spot between moxie and finesse. Guitars drift from jangly to jagged. Even in the same song. The rhythm section keeps things grounded without feeling rigid. The edges are slightly frayed on purpose. It gives the music a lived in-quality.
Moore’s vocals are where the band’s personality truly sharpens. There is an unforced honesty in his delivery. It makes the lyrics land like personal confessions overheard in the subway. Even the melodies are catchy. In addition, the tension between openness and reservation gives Dogpark‘s songs an emotive pull.
Dogpark‘s songwriting thrives on small moments rather than grand statements. The music suggests late-night walks, missed connections and slippery emotional slopes. Their sound doesn’t rush to resolve itself. It lingers by letting chords hang and feelings sit unresolved. It’s music that trusts the listener to meet it halfway in order to fill in the open spaces with their own memories.
Altogether, Dogpark sounds like a band that doesn’t lean on clichés. There’s no posturing and no forced cool. It’s just a clear sense of place and perspective. Their music feels like a picture that’s more emotional than visual. One must experience Dogpark‘s music with your guard half-up and your heart quietly wide open.
Dogpark‘s new EP, Corporate Pudding, contains three new tracks and three previously released tunes. It opens with the new songs. “Dialtone”, “I Don’t Mind” and “Dandelion” all showcase the dynamic evolution of their songwriting. “Dialtone” is a bouncy track that features a brazen guitar riff and gnarly solo by Harris. Moore’s vocals are punchy and addictive. Apostolou’s bass on “I Don’t Mind” lays down a stellar backbeat while Conte’s drums are steadfast and captivating.
“Dandelion” is by far the hit on Corporate Pudding. The vocals are immersive and cinematic while the cadence is full of lush textures. The harmonies are transcendent and the entire track feels phosphorescent and lively. Its aural flow contains a kaleidoscopic vibe that easily pulls in the listener.
“What’s My Line Again”, “September” and “75$72” all spotlight Dogpark’s brilliant orchestration. Each song shines with its own unique signature. “What’s My Line Again” has a rapacious gait. “September” dispenses dramatic vocals and a sublime arrangement. “75$72” is a funky tome that exposes the frustration artists have with the current music industry.
On a whole, Dogpark is a band on the rise. Their music has a vibrancy and vigor that will catapult Dogpark into the musical stratosphere.
Views: 0
