Written by Lauren Rosier
The Seattle-based classic rock/jazz fusion band, Sundogs, share their third full-length LP, The Code, recorded at Magellan Creek Studios.
The Code opens with the track “I Want It Now,” a classic rock song featuring blazing electric guitars, piano, and keys. The track is almost fully instrumental, aside from the occasionally sung title.
The track “Mystery Car” follows the opening song. The introduction has a seriously groovy melody featuring some excellent guitar work. The brass section gives the song some dimension as well as compared to the typical instruments. I love the story about the car and him being tempted to “take it for a joyride.”
The third song on the record is “Comin’ Back Home” and it’s definitely a head-bopper. The piano sounds great paired with the electric guitars. On “Pick It Up” the Sundogs slow it down a bit. The instrumentation on this song is great; I love hearing bits and pieces of jazz fusion and the piano in this song. I love the incorporation of all the different types of sounds.
“In The Night of the Light” is one of my favorite tracks on the album. The vocals are a little different but pair well with the song. It has elements of 80s rock, jazz fusion, and a jam band. The thing the gets me is the multiple genres that incorporate in their music. I think it’s phenomenal that they are able to play different genres, but it also kind of confuses me, the listener, as to what sound they are going for. It’s really a conglomeration of multiple genres and it gets confusing after a while.
On “Hard Life” the song starts out with heavy electric guitars with a nice riff. Left a good job/in the city/left a woman standin’ by my side… it ain’t nothin’ but a hard life…
“Jennifer” is a beautiful ballad about a great significant other. The title track, “The Code,” is a piano-based track, and probably the best song on the record. It incorporates the electric guitar as well, however, the piano really stands out. When the fire of youth is inside of you/you see all the way to the land of dreams/when the sky turns dark and the questions come/can you still find a way to the dreams you’ve seen/there’s a bridge/they say it’s too far/but you can’t believe the words they say/there’s a code/…. I love the message in the song.
“Angus” is a simple track with excellent storytelling and lyricism.
The Sundogs create a great rock/jazz fusion record. I think the instrumentation and musicians are phenomenal.
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