Something to Bark About: a Listen to “Delusions of Paradise” by Dogs at Large
If you love that John Lennon vocal reverb, you’re gonna dig Dogs at Large. “Delusions of Paradise” has a nice blend of early 70s rock sound and modern indie folk flair. Sweet plunking piano, twangy slide guitar, and twinkling acoustic bolster the sound and give everything just a hint of that bittersweet nostalgic feel. The mix is a touch loose, and it contributes to the vintage sound of the album. Overall, “Delusions of Paradise” makes for a lovely summer listen that’s easy on the ears and tasty for the soul.
On a bed of psych-rock Americana, honest, despairing, introspective lyrics carry a soft melancholy that sinks into your heart. This album feels like a meditation and a release, and it digs deep. This isn’t regular ol’ yacht rock that permeates Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. There are a number of indie bands that make this sound, but very few come from a truthful place or invite the listener anywhere below the surface. It’s refreshing to hear a familiar sound that makes an effort to distinguish itself.
“Delusions of Paradise” is surreal and real. It’s psychedelic in a far more accurate sense of the word, in that it’s dreamy and heightened, but it also exposes a lot of rawness and strips back superficialities to highlight some of the more uncomfortable truths about being a human being on this rock. Give “Delusions of Paradise” a listen. It’s good.
Listen to “Delusions of Paradise” here:
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