01/STELLA DONNELLY/BEWARE OF THE DOGS
Whenever some lowkey ridiculous action made by a man made me shout “WHY THE MEN?!” up in these streets (which happened quite often in 2019), I returned here to listen to her. I came here to listen to her put men being reckless and out of pocket in their place with her ferocious humor and stinging put downs. I returned here to her and this brash, sharp-witted album like they were friends I could lean on and count on to put a smile on my face.
Beware of the Dogs is the debut album from Welsh-Australian singer songwriter Stella Donnelly where toasts to the assholes will not be had. “You grab me with an open hand, the world is grabbing back at you”, she sings in the opening track’s hook (on the breezy yet pointed Old Man), and then proceeds to clap back sharply over the course of the album’s remaining 12 tracks. With Beware of the Dogs Stella stunts like a 90's alt-rock God, puts a middle finger to the face and a hand up to say “stop talking, you’ve had your say”. It’s calm and steady when the time calls for it (see Mosquito & You Owe Me); always direct and clear; and witty as all get out (see album highlights Season Greeting’s & Watching Telly - especially her sly delivery of the line "god loves his children... but god loves men... JESUS CHRIST(!)"). Strong-willed and in your face (see Boys Will Be Boys and the title track), Beware of the Dogs is a highly relatable, take no prisoners alt-rock gem that stings while giving you a smile (and there for you whenever you find yourself asking "why the men?!").
KEY TRACKS:
SEASON'S GREETINGS
BOYS WILL BE BOYS
BEWARE OF THE DOGS
02/SOLANGE/WHEN I GET HOME
03/VAMPIRE WEEKEND/FATHER OF THE BRIDE
04/ARIANA GRANDE/THANK U, NEXT
05/CATE LE BON/REWARD
06/TORO Y MOI/OUTER PEACE
07/TYLER THE CREATOR/IGOR
08/HELADO NEGRO/THIS IS HOW YOU SMILE
09/JUAN WAUTERS/LA ONDA DE JUAN PABLO
10/LANA DEL REY/NORMAN FUCKING ROCKWELL!
11/JENNY LEWIS/ON THE LINE
12/DANNY BROWN/UNKOWHATIMSAYIN?
13/CHARLI XCX/CHARLI
14/BILLIE EILISH/WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?
15/SHARON VAN ETTEN/REMIND ME TOMORROW
16/BIG THIEF/TWO HANDS
17/JAIMIE BRANCH/FLY OR DIE II: BIRD DOGS OF PARADISE
18/FKA TWIGS/MAGDALENE
19/BRITTANY HOWARD/JAIME
20/JESSICA PRATT/QUIET SIGNS
21/BAT FOR LASHES/LOST GIRLS
22/DEERHUNTER/WHY HASN'T EVERYTHING ALREADY DISAPPEARED?
23/ANGEL OLSEN/ALL MIRRORS
24/ADA LEA/WHAT WE SAY IN PRIVATE
25/BECK/HYPERSPACE
No comments:
Post a Comment