The demented ringmasters of rock have come out again with a flurry of clown induced nightmares. Dog Fashion Disco, with the help of an Indiegogo campaign, has a new album called “Sweet Nothings,” and it is sonically the best sounding album that they have put out yet.
Over the years DFD have carved out their own niche of alt-metal that leans heavily on carnival sounds and pure debaucherous fun with songs like “Pogo the Clown,” “Cartoon Autopsy,” and even a rendition of Frankie Valli’s “Grease.” They have not disappointed with “Sweet Nothings.” The opening track, “Greta,” washes over you like watching a Tarantino movie on some high grade LSD. While listening to this track you can almost feel yourself driving in the car with a raven-haired Uma Thurman and the wind in your hair.
As if the lyrics weren’t haunting enough; “I’m laying in the gutter and telling myself, love made me a leper. It’s bad for my health,” when the saxophone comes in at 1:43 you really just lose yourself fully in the desperation of the music.
After the macabre opening number DFD get down to business. The second track, “War Party,” is an aggressive, rage soaked ranting about our social/political landscape; past, present and even a little bit of the future, proclaiming with a bite from “I Fell Like I’m Fixin’ to Die Rag,” by Country Joe and the Fish, “Its 1-2-3 what are we fighting for? Don’t ask me I don’t give a damn, next stop might be Iran.”
The next highlight on this album is “Doctor’s Orders.” It is a funk-tastic ride into the mind of a depressed and maybe even suicidal man fed up with the normal American Dreamscape of having a dog, wife, white picket fence and don’t forget the “20 milligrams of Xanax in the witches brew.” Lord! They make depression and panic attacks sound like if Metallica took a ride with George Clinton in his Starship while James Hetfield rocks the diaper.
As the world has turned its attention to quick downloads of their favorite song at 0.99; Dog Fashion Disco has put out an album that takes you for a real nail biter of a ride. Granted, it is one demented, scary and bumpy ride…but a ride that will also make you laugh and groove. I think that “Sweet Nothings” is an album that DFD should be proud of and so should all of the fans that helped the band bring this album to life.
