Shu – Favorite Chair
Similar artists: Talking Heads, Phish, The Police
Genre: 90s Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Rock
Pop hits usually achieve their status by giving as many people as possible something that they know and want. Because of the fact that there are just so many people, the topics, melodies, or arrangements used have to seem familiar to all the people helping to make the song a hit.
Consequently, pop hits are a bit of a bore. It takes songs like Shu’s “Favorite Chair” to put you on edge, to deliver stories you’d rarely here in polite company, and to, hopefully, encourage your imagination. “Favorite Chair” sounds like pop music made by a potential serial killer.
It’s certainly a bit more intriguing than hearing about bringing flowers to the girl next door. It’s a song that asks questions. Shu’s tightly wound funk-rock doesn’t necessarily encourage dancing so much as nervous pacing. It’ll probably speak to a small part of the general public, but the artist might just be better off this way.
DOGZ OR GODZ – Scum
Genre: Post-Punk
Similar artists: The Prodigy, Sleaford Mods, Bob Vylan, The Streets
It’s ironic that many of the musical artists that have the most to say are the least equipped to tell their stories. It’s because all of their energy goes into what they’re delivering to potential audiences but not nearly as much into how they’re telling their story.
For better, but probably for worse, a credit card advertisement on the subway will get you to turn your head, but a heavy metal t-shirt will, most often, not. Anger is a powerful tool. But artists need to find a way to let others connect to their earnest anger in order for their message to be truly powerful.
DOGZ OR GODZ’s “Scum” is purely exciting, angry electro-punk. It’s not fully formed or polished. They’ll probably get there soon enough. What they have, in the meantime, is a furious party sound that is bound to get them noticed. It’s punk rock that people will want to dance to. And, that’s why they’ll want to pay attention to its message as well.
