There wasn't much good that came out of 2017 as a year, except for rejoicing in the fact that alt-indie duo Dogheart release two albums. Family Hair hit just as spring turned to summer and now, they've shared Beach Farm as fall is setting in. 

Beach Farm is a slight departure from the duo's other releases. "On this one, we took it back a bit and put a lot of emotion into without thinking about it so much," says Matt Jenkins, one half of Dogheart. "Whatever came naturally was the way it was. The process of this was the most fun we've had writing and recording an album. To us, it is the most cohesive sounding album we've made and are very proud of that aspect." 

Jenkins shares every aspect of song making duties with Dogheart's other half Gray Hildreth. With Beach Farm, they went into the recording process without a drummer, so the two took the feat on themselves. The process may have been slightly arduous for the two in the beginning, but everything ended up sounded well. While listening to Beach Farm it's easy to hear how in tune Jenkins and Hildreth are with each other's thought processes. It's a solid, garage pop record that you'll want to listen to over and over.

"This was a new approach to what Gray and I are doing now," says Jenkins. "A new development in our brains to continue through, even with a little turmoil in the process. Something odd but enlightening."

Listen to Beach Farm in its entirety below.

Dogheart haven't really taken a break since Real Mood came out almost a year ago to the day. The six track EP was a display on Dogheart's part of the maturity their sound has reached, leading up to today's release of their newest full length Family Hair.

Recorded on a Tascam 8-track in various spots around the city, Family Hair shows Dogheart executing the mellow garage rock they do best while at times, embracing a Beach Fossils and Real Estate type of haze. Album opener "Puzzled" kicks things off with a quick and catchy pace, while "Wooden Shrine" chills things out a bit. Tracks of all tempos and for all moods can be found on Family Hair, which can be streamed below.

After getting acquainted with the new Dogheart tracks, join the band along with The Woolen Men at Bunk Bar tonight for the album release show. Word is they'll be giving free haircuts until midnight, just in case you're in need of one.

With the high siren cries of Matt Jenkins' guitar, Dogheart’s new album What Burns The Best (released today), splashes onto the scene before settling with the ripples into a catchy, surf rock-ish groove. The simple guitar licks and soothing bass lines are bound to be on your lips for the rest of the day, and Jenkins' Interpol-esque vocals transmit with it the smell of sandy beaches that can’t be far around the corner by the time this short album is over. (The album is only 10 tracks and around 30 minutes long.)

A certain sonic nostalgia washed over me listening to this album. Though the album at times soars on poppy riffs, it manages to fray enough at the ends to feel spontaneous and heartfelt. The jangly anthems can almost be felt way down in the marrow, slowly churning up and out. The beat is persistent enough to ask why you aren’t moving yet. By the end of the album you can hear the boys of Dogheart playing passionately enough to send their instruments slightly out of tune. If nothing else, What Burns The Best promises the potential for a great show full of relentless rock tunes you can move to. 

While the album itself may not provide any new ideas of garage rock or surf rock, it certainly feels familiar enough to enjoy on a relaxing day. They owe a lot to influences like Guided By Voices, though props must be given to Jenkins for his flowing—but not overly busy—guitar riffs, which strike a good balance with the simple vocal melodies that are bound to get listeners singing along. And you’ll get a chance to do that at the band's offician launch show for What Burns he Best on March 14 at Bunk Bar.

-Eric Tegethoff

Whenever you see The Woolen Men appear on a bill you can count on it being a killer show. Not just because of their own aptitude for producing first-rate garage slacker-pop jams, but also because they keep very good company. July 29 at Mississippi Studios the guys are hanging out with Dogheart and San Francisco based Cool Ghouls for a night of bouncy garage rock and crunchy guitars. Dogheart is a new band on the scene who runs with knockabout bands like The Shivas and Mister Tang, but takes a more polished and subdued approach to the Portland-garage sound. Cool Ghouls will fill in the rough-and-tumble role that Dogheart will be familiar with; their brand of R&B infused swinging rock and roll is reminiscent of early Strange Boys with a twist of psych rock texture. This lineup will get you so jiggy Will Smith would offer you a solemn nod of approval.

- Bryce Woodcock