Why the hell is this so bloody hard to write about (aside from the obvious answer fact that I can’t write for shit)? Oh, rest assured, it’s an absolutely fantastic pop-punk record, with added indie and hardcore bits, but it makes me want to write SOOOO much more than “it’s an absolutely fantastic pop-punk record”.
Dugong always get damned with faint praise. Maybe it’s the music itself, playing away nicely in the background, not being too intrusive, leaving a nicely balanced set of chemicals in your brain, so you end up not quite noticing how good the last 40 minutes were. It doesn’t help that this doesn’t come roaring out the traps like their first LP did, all eager whippersnapper-ish “Look at me Mum!! Look at me!” energetic-ness.
“Hat Danko” certainly sees a more mature (shudder) Dugong, but instead of the shiteness that entails, it’s infinitely more rewarding. Songs that are catchy as hell already, revealing even more subtle layers on repeated listens. They’ve definitely stepped out of the shadows of their influences, although it is still worth mentioning Samiam and Husker Du, for those who’ve just joined us. You should get this – not because they live down the road to you, not because they’re British, and not because they sound like your favourite bands. You should get it cos it’s one of the finest albums released this year. Hell yeah.