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Laughing Dogs/The Laughing Dogs Meet Their Makers by Laughing Dogs

Laughing Dogs/The Laughing Dogs Meet Their Makers

Release Date: 8/11/2009

Recording Date: 8/2009

Tracks: 23

Length: 01:13:53 Hrs

Label: American Beat Records

Type: CD

Genre/Styles:
Punk, New Wave, Power Pop, Post-Punk, Proto-Punk, Alternative/Indie Rock, Punk/New Wave

Album Tracks (23)

Song Title
Length
1.
Get 'Im Outa Town
03:28
2.
Low Life
02:58
3.
No Lies
03:02
4.
Johnny Contender
03:19
5.
Reason for Love
02:21
6.
I Need a Million
02:55
7.
It's Alright, It's OK
03:18
8.
I'm Awake
03:16
9.
Round and Round
04:23
10.
It's Just the Truth
03:49
11.
Get Outa My Way
02:48
12.
Zombies
03:24
13.
Don't Bring Me Down
03:11
14.
Formal Letter
03:09
15.
Take My Chances
03:27
16.
Not What I Used to Be
03:14
17.
Stand Up
03:01
18.
Don't Push It
03:48
19.
Reach out for Me
02:33
20.
Melody Love
02:50
21.
Reason for Wanting You
03:02
22.
What Ya Doin' It For?
03:12
23.
Two Who Are Willing
03:25

What the Critics Say

Long out of print until this American Beat reissue, the first two Laughing Dogs albums were great power pop, even though they never made much of a dent on the charts. The fact that they would masquerade as the Kojaks (complete with bald caps) and be their own opening act is still talked about, but none of this holds a candle to their knack for serving up melodic hooks galore on these two albums. The quartet's 1979 self-titled debut was energetic and laced with musical nods to their '60s influences, right down to the production. Still, the band were able to maintain their own identity and forge a Laughing Dogs' sound, especially with album opener "Get 'im Outta Town" (a sound which they fully explored on their second album). Apart from that lead-off track, album highlights include the pop-errific "Reason for Love," "No Lies," and the Beatlesque "Low Life." Their sophomore album, Meet Their Makers, was released in 1980 and showed a maturity in the band's songwriting and arrangements. Though the rawness of the debut is missing here, the sympathetic and warm production allows the songs to breathe, and they are often stunning. With originals like "Formal Letter," "Take My Chances," "Zombies," and "Reach Out for Me," who needs covers like "Don't Bring Me Down" (the only lukewarm tune here)? This Laughing Dogs two-fer is an essential purchase for any power pop and rock music fan. Although they may have been lumped in with the other New York-based punk and new wave bands from the late '70s and early '80s, the Laughing Dogs were a rock & roll band at heart, and this excellent release proves it. ~ Steve "Spaz" Schnee, Rovi

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