When it comes to critiquing music, I often find that I am put in my place, which is something that I quite like. I had been tasked with evaluating the “dog society,” which was portrayed to me as an experienced and accomplished organization of specialists. I was informed that they had been “off the music scene” for a time, which is something that occurs while bands are producing albums, making choices, etc., just as it happens to everybody else in life. However, this was after the band had already toured with illustrious acts like as Sheryl Crowe, Stone Temple Pilots, and the Mighty Bosstones. Therefore, it is only natural that a band with such a high level of ability piqued our interest. Even though I can only attempt a guess as to why, dog society provides us with some hints in both their demeanor and their music. One of those hints is a soon-to-be-classic album that was independently made and given the label “emerge.” Although it might be difficult to identify all of the many impacts that were exerted by past generations, one that can not be ignored the that of the Beatles, both in their earlier and later incarnations (white album). Some bands react negatively when they are compared to other bands because they think I am implying that they are “not creative.” On the other hand, that is not at all the case. It’s possible that these guys are one of the most creative bands I’ve heard so far in this decade. New York City’s alternative rock band Dog Society got its name from the activities of an early native American tribe that participated in the resistance movement against the hostilities that destroyed their lands. Dog society was involved in the resistance struggle against the hostilities. In addition to recording emerge, dog society has accomplished all of this by maintaining their own identities, by not signing with huge labels but being independent, and by retaining their diversity and adaptability, all of which demonstrate that they have lived up to the moniker “dog society.” The indigenous peoples of the United States in the past certainly deserve to be proud. Brian Schnaak, Bruce Brauer, Rich Guerzon, and Joe Ranieri are the members of the band that make it up. How would one go about describing them? Their music is intense yet soothing at the same time. There is unquestionably a driving force behind them, yet their manner is such that “we want you to like us, but we don’t demand it” (we want you to like us, but we don’t demand it). The next thing you know, you are almost halfway through the record, and you are astonished by the raw acumen of these young guys who have more than obviously paid their dues. Every song has a personal touch, leaving the listener to question, “How did they know that about me?” they evoke a sense of sympathy with the struggles of maturing, which include achieving goals, falling short of those goals, picking oneself up and achieving new goals, as well as all the other challenges that each of us must overcome in order to discover our voice, our face, and our authentic selves. For example, the song “suffer a grin,” although presenting an obviously cynical outlook on life, instructs us on what it takes occasionally to get through some of the similarities that are so prevalent in life. And even when we are in pain, there are moments when we have to find a way to grin, since “here’s one way, maybe not the only one.” There is no element of preaching, which is another strong point in its favor. Even when they were famous all over the world, this continued to be an invaluable advantage for the Beatles, and it looks that dog society has a similar quality. There is a distinct impact that can be heard following the lead guitar in this song, and it is quite easy to think that it is George Harrison’s playing. During the years when rubber soul was released, one can also detect the influence of Paul McCartney’s voice in the music. Another song that sticks in your head is “aleja,” which is all about being in the midst of breaking up with someone. It is evident that she is either the love interest or a lady who can offer a wounded guy guidance on how to get over such a life-changing incident (which all of us have been through). Another one of my favorites is called “the fuse before,” and it is a darkly comical way that dog society makes itself vulnerable. However, it also brings out our own vulnerabilities that we typically attempt to hide (in an unhealthy way), and as they move through this brilliant number (this time in more of a Beatles white album feel), we learn how to cope with what society expects of us in the way of success. No matter how huge one believes they have gotten or how big they themselves have become, we all have a limitless supply of fuses from which to draw. How can we replace the fuses after they have completely blown out? This song opens up about a lot of things, and it’s a nice one. I couldn’t help but think of the Beatles once again, despite the fact that they are often labeled as a combination of psychedelic rock and reasonable pop, which are all appropriate words. Again, please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. Dog Society has modernized all of its instruments, producing a phenomenally tighter studio sound while yet maintaining a natural-sounding authenticity in their music. Chris Rea and J.J. Cale are two more people who have accomplished this feat with success. I sensed both of those major influences while listening to this band, which has a lot of potential and seems to have all of its fuses functioning. Thankfully, we can expect to hear much more from dog society in the near future. Dog Society’s latest album, “emerge,” has received an a+++ rating from reviewer rick London, which is excellent news for the band’s legion of devoted followers. You may listen to some amazing music by following @dogsocietyny on Twitter or going to their website. Author Rick London is also a cartoonist and designer, but his wacky drawings for the London Times are what have made him most famous online. They are now rated number one on google. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Dog Society’s latest album, “emerge,” has received an a+++ rating from reviewer rick London, which is excellent news for the band’s legion of devoted followers. You may listen to some amazing music by following @dogsocietyny on Twitter or going to their website. Author Rick London is also a cartoonist and designer, but his wacky drawings for the London Times are what have made him most famous online. They are now rated number one on google.