lambchops's Full Review: Totally Crushed Out by That Dog
Unsure as to what to expect from that dog., I was pleased to discover that Totally Crushed Out is an entertaining album. The best words to describe the Los Angeles foursome would be light, airy, enthusiastic, and fun. But fortunately for listeners, that dog. is surprisingly pleasurable…and less cutesy than one would expect.
While still recording, the band consisted of four members. Twin sister Rachel and Petra Haden provide the backing vocals and much of the music with Rachel on bass and Petra with violin. Anna Waronker throws her guitar, lyrics and vocals into the mix while Tony Maxwell rounds out the foursome with percussion and the occasional acoustic guitar. As a whole that dog. is an incredibly surprising act. It is incredibly hard not to smile at the premise of the band and their albums.
that dog. made their major label, full-length debut in 1994 with a self-titled album on DGC. And while the album wasn’t nearly perfect, the quirky and lighthearted release set the stage for a matured band to resurface just a year later. Totally Crushed Out hit shelves in 1995. Something of a concept album, the disc is a creatively blended variety of punk/pop that could have been really horrible. Instead, the concept of the album detailing young love and heartbreak is endearing—not to mention the fact that the capricious music itself is enthralling.
Totally Crushed Out is not thought provoking. Rather, that dog. wants nothing more than to make listeners smile. The band has managed to accomplish that goal…plus some. that dog. is a novelty act, but they also have a great deal of talent. As a whole, the punk guitars are impressive as are the thundering drums. In addition, Waronker’s shimmering girly vocals and accompanying lyrics are welcomed contrasts the thickly arranged songs. In particular, Waronker is reminiscent of former Veruca Salt singer/songwriter Nina Gordon. And in my humble opinion, Gordon is a goddess.
Anyway, Totally Crushed Out is not a hard hitting album. As already mentioned, it is about teen angst…as interpreted by twenty-somethings. Of course the album isn’t meant to be taken seriously, so be advised if checking out that dog. do so with your tongue firmly planted in your cheek. And another thing…the main identifiable influence here is punk therefore be advised that the songs are on the whole pretty brief. Totally Crushed Out is thirteen songs in length and runs under forty minutes in length.
The true nature of this disc can be summed up in songs like He’s Kissing Christian, One Summer Night, Rockstar and Ms. Wrong. In these songs, that dog. details the surreality in which teenage girls live. And they do so with great energy and minimalist lyrics requiring zero interpretation. Listeners will get the biggest laugh out of He’s Kissing Christian. The poor girl in the story is losing her boyfriend who is busily kissing Christian. She feels like she’s being cheated on and is having horrible difficulty accepting the fact that this guy is gay.
He's kissing Christian, and it's making him feel backwards.
He's kissing Christian, cause he's such a successful bachelor
He's kissing Christian, and it's making my back hurt
He's kissing Christian, and it's making you cry
Come out, come out, wherever you are.
One Summer Night is a quaint little song about young infatuation. Awww…how sweet. In this ditty, the protagonist falls in love with a boy who shows mutual interest at age fourteen. Of course they grow up, apart, and away. And so life goes. What makes this track a standout aside from the nature of the lyrics is the music. The vocal harmonies are impressive is the arrangement. To digest this track, and the others, it is necessary to first hear it on a whole and then listen to the lyrics separately. Both elements work well, but only together is the ironic nature of the music apparent.
Unrealistic infatuation is the topic at hand in Rockstar. With the first notes, that dog. makes clear the fact that this is a bittersweet ballad. Again the emotion is one half-hearted…Waronker is clearly making fun of girls who fall in love with people they see in the movies, on television, and in music. As far as pure vocals go, Rockstar is probably the most impressive track…Waronker sounds wonderful when paired with sisters Rachel and Petra. This is a song that will appeal to people not impressed in the least with the more rockin’ offerings.
Finally of particular note is Ms. Wrong. The album kicks off with the fierce track that laments about the complexities of love from the point of view of a teenage girl. that dog. has a seamless sound that not only incorporates usual instruments but also the unexpected violin. Somehow, this works though I can’t imagine it working in any other arena from any other band.
The rest of the tracks pretty much follow the same flow lyrically and musically as the four I’ve detailed. Not one of the thirteen here is deep or thoughtful…just funny and invigorating. And it’s not often that I can find an album this quaint and unique that is truly appealing. Totally Crushed Out may not be for punk purists or rock purists or pop purists, but if you happen to be interested in a slick combination of the aforementioned genres than you might just enjoy that dog. Keep in mind though, it is above all other things the epitome of “cute.”
Rating: 3.5/5 stars rounded up to 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Ms. Wrong | 02. Silently | 03. In the Back of My Mind | 04. He’s Kissing Christian | 05. Anymore | 06. To Keep Me | 07. Lip Gloss | 08. She Doesn’t Know How | 09. Holidays | 10. Side Part | 11. One Summer Night | 12. Michael Jordon | 13. Rockstar
* that dog. disbanded in 1997 soon after the release of their third album, Retreat from the Sun
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