All Dogs, from Columbus, OH, emit chill vibes and unfiltered heartache that appeals to fans of P.S. Eliot and Acid Fast. Singer/guitarist Maryn Jones softly croons on opener “Black Hole,” which is a forecast for much of the record. Many of the songs don’t so much as strike you as they seem to slowly seep under your skin. You gradually catch on to the dense melodies and poetic lyricism. When “That Kind of Girl” kicks in with its upbeat tempo (and downbeat lyrics: “I know that I am always fucking up your world”), it’s a break from the dreamy, head-nodding atmosphere of the previous three songs. That’s not to say that the slow jams aren’t appealing—rather the driving songs, like “Flowers” and “Ophelia,” make the interpersonal tragedy of “Leading Me Back to You” and “Skin” much more tragic. All Dogs are a whirlwind of emotions that I don’t mind getting swept up in.
–Sean Arenas (Salinas)