Richie Quake
Dog
Mass Appeal
Dec 12, 2023
Web Exclusive
Not solely does Dog, the sophomore album from New York’s Richie Quake, bristle with extra hooks than a fishing deal with warehouse, nevertheless it additionally represents a genre-blending physique of labor that turns into a lot greater than the sum of its components.
Musically, Quake’s enchantment is his skill to translate unguarded tenderness into grunge-tinged bangers and down-tempo acoustic numbers with equal impact. Over the course of those 10 songs, and rather less than half an hour, tousled relationships are uncovered, longing and remorse are pushed entrance and heart, and on the coronary heart of all of it is a expertise for lyricism and songcraft that calls to thoughts (in no specific order) Cavetown, Charlie Hickey, Elliott Smith, even—at instances—Biffy Clyro, so advanced are a few of these preparations.
At the ‘punchy’ finish of the spectrum, “TOMMY,” “Throwing Stones,” and “Birthday Party” all hit arduous—the latter that includes an earth-shaking piledrive of a drum part. Recent single, “Entire Vampire,” is an ex-lover’s lament that stays with you lengthy after its closing bars. The tender facet to this file finds its expression in acoustic guitar-led opening monitor, “Dog,” within the splendidly summery “Tree,” and on “PALM,” wherein—as with many of those tracks—Quake dissects one other failed relationship. “Baby Ocean Girl” gives hope, one other killer hook, and maybe this file’s most evident hit single, whereas bathing the listener in pure late ’80s indie guitar tones.
Richie Quake’s Dog offers emotional tremors, catchy aftershocks, and positively ground-moving guitars. And there’s rather a lot revealed of the artist on this file. It actually seems like Quake has neither pulled any punches, neither is afraid to put himself naked in his trustworthy exploration of human interplay. This emotional maturity and vulnerability mark him out as one to observe. (www.richiequake.com)
Author ranking: 7.5/10
