“To A City I Have Known” opens Sons Of Great Dane’s newest release You Can’t Lose It All, All At Once. It begins with an up-tempo drum beat and throbbing guitars that almost instantly drag out my favorite pastime: nostalgia. I’m eighteen again, I’m on a road trip, and all I want to do is drive and let my mind wander. I know already that this album is a soundtrack to those moments.
Brent Windler’s voice enters, “She gave her heart away, Down highways that leave you up north, to a city that dreams with you,” and I start listening closely. He’s describing moments. If they are memories, or maybe drunken and broken flashes, I don’t know, but my thoughts follow him through a wandering narrative.
The heartache he is describing and the charming and tragic picture he is painting are defeated, though not entirely, by the exultant explosion of a very catchy and harmony-laden chorus. I am now singing along. Flattering melodies between Windler and EvanJohn Macintosh’s guitars build and wane, filling the whole room, but never losing pace. The song ends with a chord made to sound like the lasting ring of a bell underwater. There are still three songs I haven’t even listened to yet.
“Love, Desire, Failure” lilts and bobs, with the predominant instrument played being everyone’s heartstrings. With a refined bass line from Nolle Bond and a shrug, it works its way into a pretty anthem for a short time and leaves you feeling peaceful and triumphant.
“Approximately 18th St” brings back the momentum with panning guitars, always driving but never angry. Eventually it turns on you, into a three feel with daunting melodies and haunting vocals, and then picks back up where it left off, pacing to the finish with some excellent drumming from Brendan Culp.
The last song on this album, “For You And Me,” is like an after-dinner mint; relaxing and simple, with a few lovely lyrical moments.
Recorded by Paul Malinowski at Massive Sound and released by Sharp County Records, this recording is well-balanced, subtle, and memorable for it.
Sons of Great Dane will be performing on a local all-star bill this Saturday at The Brick with The Dead Girls and Radkey. Be sure to check them out.
–Megan Zander
| Megan fronts ProgPop band Dream Wolf. Loves her cat, scootering, and dancing. Hates horses. |