Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 2.5/5 Reviewer: Tyrone Castanho |
Recognized for their lyrical potency and electro-rock assault on sexual inadequacies, Louis XIV and their third studio release Slick Dogs & Ponies continues their reckless romp through cheap sex and stereo. Signed to Atlantic Records, the San Diego outfit fronted by Jason Hill is currently riding an extensive tour throughout the East Coast with the likes of Hot Hot Heat and the Editors. No coincidence, mind you, that these three particularly eclectic groups have come together considering the overall complexity and layered work that makes up the majority of the tracks on Slick Dogs & Ponies.
To paint Louis XIV into one stylistic corner is near impossible as the eleven tracks co-produced by Hill and guitarist Brian Karscig seem to borrow influences from any unfortunate genre that happens to find itself in their way. The immediate layered approach is the trademark for the group as the intro track ‘Guilt By Association’ starts off with a dirge of warped vocals, crashing head on into a distorted pop bass-line reminiscent of The Pink Spiders. Known for their saucy lyrics, there are moments of reprise like the social commentary ‘Misguided Sheep’ which even contains a surprising blues-based guitar solo. The album has numerous symphonic arrangements similar to the acidic trips of Kasabian. There are returns to the reliable well of nymphomaniac inspiration with two particularly dark tracks, ‘Tina’ and the headline single ‘Stalker.’ Never afraid to return to their glam rock roots, the band exerts its full creative effort into the title track, which has the longest running time of any song, dropping just short of seven minutes.
Slick Dogs & Ponies reflects the band’s free wheeling spirit in its entirety. The heavy use of layers often overwhelms listeners and the sometimes banshee wail of vocals can cause mild brain hemorrhaging. But for fans of groups like Death From Above 1979 and even Franz Ferdinand, the album is worth a cautionary glance.
