Leatherface

Leatherface: Dog DiscoDog Disco (2004)
BYO Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

User Rating:

Contributed by: adamAdam
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Published on March 19th 2004Despite the fact that their influence permeates some of today's most beloved punk bands, the new Leatherface album arrived quietly and without hype. The legacy of Frankie Stubbs and company can be heard in such luminaries as Dillinger Four, Avail, Manifesto Jukebox, Hot Water Music, Planes Mistaken .

Despite the fact that their influence permeates some of today's most beloved punk bands, the new Leatherface album arrived quietly and without hype. The legacy of Frankie Stubbs and company can be heard in such luminaries as Dillinger Four, Avail, Manifesto Jukebox, Hot Water Music, Planes Mistaken For Stars, Gunmoll... hell a good portion of the No Idea Records roster, yet Dog Disco just snuck by unheralded while the modern punk scene they helped build were busy with other matters.

Considering the type of band Leatherface has always been, this isn't really surprising.

The Sunderland group's honestly a difficult one to get into, but an incredibly gratifying one for those that make the effort. For me personally Stubbs' gravelly, understated vocal style took me a while to get my head around in my first few encounters. Musically however the band sounds all too familiar, especially given that their dense layered guitar sound has been so frequently adopted since. This should work in their favor today, as bands who have run with the Leaterface's style are certainly in vogue.

Dog Disco just may be Leatherface at their most melodic. Frankie Stubbs' may have been far more raging and abrasive in the past, but he's never been this consistently soulful. There's a history in these songs, a world-weary sense of wisdom for lack of a better description. You can hear that in both the band's anthems like the album opening "Hoodlum" to heartfelt material like "Plastic Surgery." The twelve tracks that make up the record may not be the most immediate material the band's ever recorded, but it's certainly a fine addition to their body of work. Furthermore Dog Disco works well as a cohesive album, something the band's always strived for and have once again accomplished.

One must understand that Leatherface is a band that bleeds intensity, and even their more low-key songs give a sense of pressure and movement. Despite their many imitators, few bands have truly achieved this like Leatherface has.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

monthegers (February 25, 2010)

Let's just take a moment here to reflect on Leatherface's cover art over the years that culminated in this masterpiece. Totally unpredictable. Their full lengths and all their many 7inches over the years have always had this bizarre quality to them. A pal of mine that used to work at BYO said that the label had a nice looking mock-up for Dog Disco (something along the lines of their previous two BYO releases, the only boring looking ones they ever put out), but instead the band sent them this. Pretty awesome. Leatherface can pull that kind of shit off. All of those records, including Dog Disco, are flawless. Buy them all.

kingofsuck (July 2, 2006)

I haven't listened to this album for about two years, but it really did have the worst cover art ever.

Anonymous (April 1, 2004)

leatherface sure does it again they are one fine band, i like beer too.

Anonymous (March 25, 2004)

The idiot who said get Mush and the Singles is way off the mark. Pick up everything you can from Leatherface. They are awesome, better than Jawbreaker.
It annoys me when people make comments without hearing all their releases. Fill Your Boots and Minx are cracking also.
DOG DISCO IS THE BUSINESS AND THE RECENT LIVE DATES BLOW AWAY MOST LIVE BANDS IN THE WORLD, EVEN HOT WATER MUSIC AND FACE TO FACE

LEATHERFACE ARE THE REAL DEAL.

Anonymous (March 24, 2004)

I love this band. I think everything they ever recorded is incredible, Frankie Stubbs is a fucking genius. This album just proves all that.

Anonymous (March 24, 2004)

this record is fucking genius! back to the days of old, this album is an instant classic. people who don't know "mush", fill your boots", "minx", "the last" and all the singles are again left in the dark. please stop talking about the cover art. at least it's not a skull and crosbones,

Anonymous (March 22, 2004)

Hunt down "Mush" and and the singles dicography then call it a day!!

Anonymous (March 22, 2004)

Huge fan here...We all know that Leatherface put out 3 good records...Maybe-"Mush", Hot Water Split and the singles disc. This record took me 2 listens before i retired it to the sell pile. Disapointed again.

Anonymous (March 22, 2004)

my rating is to the album art....wow.

Anonymous (March 22, 2004)

They're better mate, trust me.

Anonymous (March 22, 2004)

i dont really see why jawbreaker is being mentioned here but if leatherface is anything like them i need to check them out

Anonymous (March 21, 2004)

yep that dog is high as a kite

Anonymous (March 21, 2004)

See kids, that's what happens when you let hippies design your album cover...

Anonymous (March 21, 2004)

In the Leatherface Cannon this is an 8. Its a bit more Melodic than Horsebox.Its not Mush or Fill Your Boots(Why does no-one ever mention this, it is awesome).
Yeah, Richie Hammond may not be there, but I don't think Stubbs ever relied on him.
Saw them in Edinburgh the other night and they were superb.
They are the best band in the UK and have been for the last 15 years.

matt81 (March 21, 2004)

very good cd

Anonymous (March 20, 2004)

Didn't have the album yet, but Leatherface is one of the best punk bands in history. And Jawbreaker's punk.

Anonymous (March 20, 2004)

"jawbreaker is not punk."

and they told everyone.

wyzo

Anonymous (March 20, 2004)

jawbreaker is not punk.

notfeelingcreative (March 20, 2004)

Golden Retrievers kick ass.

Anonymous (March 20, 2004)

score is for the album helping me squeeze out a good shit after the chinese buffet... too much General Tso's chicken

Anonymous (March 20, 2004)

if you guys review the reissue of jawbreaker's dear you then maybe you'll be somewhat back in touch with punk rock, but this is a good start.

wyzo