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The odds are that unless you're a late twentysomething metalhead who remembers when the Quireboys and Thunder were being touted as the next big things, you'll not have heard of the Dogs D'Amour. If so then you really should check out this album. Long before Justin Hawkins was bringing some old-skool rock ethics on to the music scene, Wolverhampton's most debauched were ramraiding their way into the Top 40 with a similar sort of style.
The difference is, of course, that the Dogs put real feeling (as opposed to simple showmanship) into their work as evidenced here. These are whisky-soaked bar room laments which sound like the Stereophonics only about a million times less boring. From the frenetic "Mr Barfly" through the beautifully melancholy "Satellite Kid" and the none-more-anthemic "Drunk Like Me" to the bright-eyed new relationship optimism of "I Think It's Love Again", it just proves what an under-rated songwriter Dogs frontman Tyla is.
Word has just reached us that the Dogs are back out there on the road again this month - do yourself a favour, buy this and go see 'em. This is quite possibly the best Britrock band you've never heard.
Rating: 9/10
Reviewed by Andy James
