Quirky, Intruiging, Peculiar
If you wanted to sum up Dogs Die In Hot Cars in one word, it’s possible: Quirky.
This CD proves this, as it swings from 'Man Bites Man' with its globules of ska bubbling underneath the surface to the thoughtful, brooding 'Nobody Teaches Life Anything' which is upbeat, sing-a-long material whilst the piano prevents it from becoming out of hand. Just before the short but sweet chorus a saxophone is introduced which heightens the general feeling of cheerfulness.
The 'Queen Of the Pumpkin Plukes' employs the use of an acoustic guitar to accompany the stark vocals. The focus really is on the lyrics with nothing to distract your attention from the words until the chorus emerges. What sounds like a choir rises out from an empty space before fading out again leaving you wondering where on earth it came from. The song picks up once drums are added into the equation, but that choir is still there, rising and fading in the chorus; strange indeed.
From here, 'Nobody Teaches Life Anything' sets off on it’s brief journey to track four. It sounds very much like the music accompanying a beautiful woman walking along a cliff top, so it’s a slight shock when 'Pastimes & Lifestyles' plucks the baton out of its hands before running off in the direction of the finishing line. It’s much more upbeat, matching 'Man Bites Man' with its peculiar lyrics and piano backing.
All in all, 'Man Bites Man' is a pleasant voyage into an intriguing bands mind that, at the very least, deserves a second play at the very least.