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Screeching Weasel - Bark Like a Dog Audio CD

A fair review of the Screeching Weasel "Bark Like a Dog" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Screeching Weasel reviews here, or go back to the Screeching Weasel tabs.

Screeching Weasel Band: Screeching Weasel
Title: Bark Like a Dog
Rating:
Release Date: 1996-11-05
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Get off My Back 2: Cool Kids 3: First Day of Summer 4: You'll Be in My Dreams Today 5: You Blister My Paint 6: Stupid Girl 7: Phasers on Kill 8: Handcuffed to You 9: (She Got) Electroshocked 10: It's Not Enough 11: I Will Always Be There 12: Your Name Is Tattooed on My Heart

Solid and fantastic!


Highlights:
"Cool Kids" -has that fantastic organ riff, it just makes the whole song
"Phasers On Kill" -Snotty and the lyrics are sung like a playground-chant, but somehow I really like it anyway. This is a great collection of pop-punk songs, every one is memorable and they're all varied enough where they don't start to sound the same by the end of the album. Its a funny song with a great hook.
"Handcuffed To You" -Hilarious lyrics, yet manages to come off as oddly sweet.
"(She Got) Electroshocked" -Especially Ramones-y (though the whole album is, really), but the intensity and energy elevates it to a new level. It bowls you over.
"Your Named Is Tattooed on my Heart" -A very sweet ballad.

But really the whole album shines and there isn't one track that even approaches mediocre.

Which is more than I can say for most pop-punk. I love this type of stuff, really I do, but upon hearing "Bark Like A Dog" I realize that this is head and shoulders above most of the competition. Outside of a handful of Ramones albums, "Cool To Be You" by the Descendents, and "Death By Television" by the Lillingtons, I don't think I've heard a pop-punk album this good.


The Last Really Good Screeching Weasel Album
As the title of this review indicates, I view this album as SW's last great hurrah before completely fading into the history books. Screeching Weasel ranks third on my list of the greatest pop punk bands, behind only the legendary Buzzcocks and the immortal Descendents (with an honorable mention to Shonen Knife).

Screeching Weasel really didn't change a whole lot during their reign of terror, so If you have heard their music before, this will not surprise you. The only noticable difference, as other reviewers have pointed out, is the more professional sounding production that graces the 12 tracks on this, their Fat Wreck Chords, debut. While it does slightly neuter their trademark aggressive-in-your-face-snot-nosed delivery, the fact that a majority of these compositions are both well thought out and executed provide for a very entertaining listen.

In regards to the songs, the only one I really consistently skip over is (She Got) Electroshocked. It's not even a bad song, I just like the surrounding material so much more. My favorites are 'Cool Kids' with that sweet organ, 'You'll Be in My Dreams Today' instantly makes your toe tap, and "Get Off my Back" is a great way to open the album. The sleeper track is the awesome 'Handcuffed to You' with its funny, yet strangely sweet lyrics.

Although 'Bark Like A Dog' does not have the impact of 'Anthem for A New Tomorrow' or 'My Brain Hurts', I do consider it a very good entry into a hit-or-miss Screeching Weasel music catalog. And it's short, so even if you don't like it, it's not like you wasted too much time.


And no, this thing is not a fake


Having signed to Fat Mike's Fat Wreck Chords Label, the band opted for a slightly slicker production sound than on their prior releases. Reforming after their second break up following their album "How to Make Enemies and Irritate People," a slightly new lineup finds Ben Weasel and Jughead surrounded by some newcomers, and the result is a band that sounds more like a Weasel cover band than the real deal. Although this turned many fans off, the songwriting, however, carries this album. Cool Kids, I Will Always Be There, and First Day of Summer are songs that might not sound out of place on My Brain Hurts had they been recorded back then.

Acting as a bit of an indicator of where their career was heading, Bark Like A Dog is a decent release worth at least hearing. Not as strong as Anthem, but certainly not as weak as Emo, this is definitely classic Screeching Weasel tailor made for any fan of catchy three chord nose thumbing music.


love at first listen
I love this! I'm getting the whole album for my b-day in october.


Great Pop-Punk
The production and song writing is polished and slick. This is of my favorite Screeching Weasel albums and possibly one of my favorite pop-punk albums of all time. It's a must have album for any pop-punker. High points include the song "Cool Kids" which has of of the catchiest organ solos ever written, and "Your Named Is Tattooed on my Heart" which is a softly sweet pop-punk ballad. This is the last album with what I consider to be the best line up of Screeching Weasel. It is also a great Screeching Weasel starter. And above all it is a great album.


You can see a complete list of all Screeching Weasel discography, or go back to the Screeching Weasel tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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