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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
A breath of fresh air after the dreary round of new British bands that seems to have cropped up in the last year, Dogs Die In Hot Cars' Please Describe Yourself displays the jerky rhythms that marked the greatest New Wave bands. But this is no retro sound. Sympathetically produced by Madness/Dexys/Blur's Langer & Winstanley, this rises above your usual unimaginative indie fare, emphasis placed firmly on the overall band sound and band harmonies surrounding Craig Macintosh's stuttering, wired vocals, but still packing a punch.
As demonstrated on "Godhopping", the band brim with energy, all instruments and vocals sounding on the brink of release but kept in check by the production, all to good effect. It may lose its footing at times, and naming a song "Apples & Oranges" when your vocalist sounds just like XTC frontman Andy Partridge may betray roots, but these are minor quibbles. Sensibly for a debut, the band don't stretch themselves too much; only one song (arguably the weakest--no song should be titled "Celebrity Sanctum" ever) passes four minutes, and there are no overblown pleas for world peace or saving children. What you do get is a very satisfying, enjoyable debut album. --Thom Allott
Product Description
DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS Please Describe Yourself (2004 UK 10-track debut CD album from the Fife five including the singles Godhopping & I Love You Cause I Have To lyric booklet picture sleeve)
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Always searching for something a little out of the ordinary at a time where a great deal of bands behave like glorified tribute acts to each other, I was so pleased to discover DDIHC. I first heard of them when I saw the Zutons live on their joint tour; I had imagined from the name that they were yet another local 'emo' band, but it made me giggle a little so I stuck around to watch them.
There are few other indie bands who have ever made me want to dance so much! My fears were completely dissipated. Witty lyrics accompanied by energetic tunes flood through this album; even if DDIHC are not quite to your taste you cannot deny how infectious they are. My personal favourite songs on here are the sing-a-long 'Paul Newman's eyes', the confessional yet still upbeat 'I Love you 'Cause I Have to' and 'Lounger', the latter of which has huge potential to become my summer anthem.
Despite obvious/lazy comparisions to Belle and Sebastian (they're a Scottish guitar-pop band, dontchaknow?) and Dexy's Midnight Runners (funny voice, tunes that could be described as 'stompers') I think that DDIHC have gotten the balance right and produced an original, extremely listenable album (it's not been out of my CD player since I bought it). I disagree slightly with the review above that says you'll like this if you're a fan of Killers/Ordinary Boys, but that's probably just a matter of personal taste.
Definitely check this lot out though, you'll never know how you lived without it.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Eeeeeee, it,s like were back in 1979. Pop songs with jerky staccato rhythmic nuances, a vocalist with an angular off key voice. Songs about domestic ennui and seventies icon Paul Newman. It's like the Vapours. Members and Leyton Buzzards never went away. It's given a contemporary sheen with references to celebrity culture and the emasculation of the male but overall this is an album with an invigorating sagaciously retro edge. For the second time in not a very long time I find myself despite my better instinct really enjoying music that looks backwards rather than forwards. (The other album was "Free the Bees".)
As ever it's the quality of the songs that really does the trick. The irresistible elongated fizzing keyboard notes on the vivacious "I Love You Cause I Have To", or the irrepresibly scratchy guitars, which remind me worryingly of Haircut 100 on "Lounger" which tells us that Harold was shot in 1066 with a long pointy stick. I laughed anyway. "Godhopping" has a jaunty tumbling piano melody while "Apples and Oranges" has fantastic counterpoint vocal lines along with its quirky sounding keyboards. The stop start verse on "Paul Newman's Eyes" gives way to glowing vocal harmonies and leads straight into the more traditional jangleisms of "Pastimes & Lifestyles".
"Celebrity Sanctum", "Somewhat off the Way", "Modern Woman" and "Glimpse at the Good Life " are hardly mere filler material but lack the ardent melodic sensibility of the best material on "Dogs die in Hot Cars". This is a hugely enjoyable album .It.s short sharp and occasionally witty and seems instinctively to realise that the real trick with songs like these is to make them melodically edgy with a vivid energy and an eye for a startling couplet. Mission accomplished I,d say. Much better than a poke in the eye with a pointy stick any day.
As ever it's the quality of the songs that really does the trick. The irresistible elongated fizzing keyboard notes on the vivacious "I Love You Cause I Have To", or the irrepresibly scratchy guitars, which remind me worryingly of Haircut 100 on "Lounger" which tells us that Harold was shot in 1066 with a long pointy stick. I laughed anyway. "Godhopping" has a jaunty tumbling piano melody while "Apples and Oranges" has fantastic counterpoint vocal lines along with its quirky sounding keyboards. The stop start verse on "Paul Newman's Eyes" gives way to glowing vocal harmonies and leads straight into the more traditional jangleisms of "Pastimes & Lifestyles".
"Celebrity Sanctum", "Somewhat off the Way", "Modern Woman" and "Glimpse at the Good Life " are hardly mere filler material but lack the ardent melodic sensibility of the best material on "Dogs die in Hot Cars". This is a hugely enjoyable album .It.s short sharp and occasionally witty and seems instinctively to realise that the real trick with songs like these is to make them melodically edgy with a vivid energy and an eye for a startling couplet. Mission accomplished I,d say. Much better than a poke in the eye with a pointy stick any day.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Gordy B
Format:Audio CD
I originally bought this album out of curiosity- I met one of the band members through a mutual friend and said I'd check out their album. Over a year later I still absolutely love it! Every song is superb; catchy, energetic, inspired, awesome. "Lounger", "Celebrity Sanctum" and "Apples and Oranges" are probably the highlights, but there are no lowlights or fillers. This is one of the best albums I've bought in years. Dogs Die in Hot Cars deserve to be huge.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dogs sadly did die in the big music car :(
Well back in the crazy mid-00s, we were talking up Dogs die in hot cars alongside Franz Ferdinand and Futureheads a a northern new wave reformation. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Franimall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still listening to this album
I bought this album when it came out 4 years ago and I still enjoy it. Buy it now !
Published on 12 Mar 2008 by F. Newington
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb Album
This is a great piece of work from a musically gifted band. I'd have to agree that all the songs on the album are as impressive as the next, with the highlighs being lounger... Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2006 by Conor McCauley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Off the hook...
Im not going to sit here and write an essay on this album I just wanted to say, I think its awesome! A break from the norm!!! Try it you might just like it!
Published on 29 July 2005 by "chas170983"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Bloody Refreshing!
This album is incredibly tight, quirky, fun, upbeat, wild,interesting, and colorful. Imagine a young Bob Geldof singing with Dexys Midnight Runners, The Talking Heads, XTC, The... Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2005 by Christopher J. Harrison
5.0 out of 5 stars
Boys and Girl from Glasgow do Good
This is not just a damn fine assortment of up tempo pop tunes,
these records are really quite touching but most of all, they're just great to sing and dance along to. Read more
these records are really quite touching but most of all, they're just great to sing and dance along to. Read more
Published on 9 May 2005 by "cardium-red"
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent album
I like music that cheers you up rather than drags you down, and this certainly does. I found myself driving back from work singing at the top of my voice today and I guarantee you... Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2005 by Fran
5.0 out of 5 stars
gloriously marvelous
saw them randomly onthe first night of their tour in humble tubridge wells and fell in love with them.. happy summery and above all interesting..very catchy too.. Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2005 by paul
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good debut from the FIFE band, not Glaswegian
Every song on this album excites you and surprises. Where you'd expect the occasional filler this one doesnot have any. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2004 by "u65sb2"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Daring to be different? Surely not...
I saw the band in Bristol and was immediately taken with the name, shortly followed by the music. I was fortunate enough to fnd a promo copy of the album lying around in a pub... Read more
Published on 27 Aug 2004 by Monkey Boy
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