Dog Day God – Honestly, They’re Right (2022)
Through his new single ‘Honestly, They’re Right’, Dog Day God brings a touch of melancholy to a hint of nostalgia. Leaving a serious impression on anyone listening, this dreamy soft rock track showcases the emotionally charged sound of his solo work. Using the lightest sprinkling of experimentation, he brings his unique brand of rock to our ears while drawing us into the rather cinematic story of the lyrics.
While Michael Moore, the man behind the music, may be better known by some as the guitarist of progressive rock band Halcyon Fields, his solo work is nothing to ignore. Introspective and intimate, he brings a new side to his musicality, through his own releases as he leads us to his debut album. If this is the first time you are hearing him, you are likely to be quite happy that he has decided to unleash his solo material on the world.
‘Honestly, They’re Right’ opens with a rather moody guitar line that pulls you into a really reflective vibe. The rather stripped-back feeling of the opening brings a wonderful intimacy to the track. The singular guitar line is stark against the emptiness of the soundscape, but undeniably beautiful in its emotive tugs. Each strummed note tugs at your emotions, leading you further into the brooding tale of melancholy. This feeling only increases as the single progresses and the guitar is layered with an equally brooding upper level. The two guitar lines create a raw dance of sadness as they merge through the bridge. For all its simplicity, the melody is extremely powerful as it really sets the emotional tone of the single, allowing the vocals to hit the feelings of the track home.
While the guitar-driven melody has you sinking into melancholy, Moore’s vocals rise from the shadows with their own brooding edge. There is a feeling of hopelessness to his performance that mixes with a lethargy that rests in your bones. The vocal performance is interesting as there are two distinct lines. The first is the darker brooding and melancholic line that meets and bolsters the higher vocal performance. The higher vocal performance has a light touch of dreaminess that adds a wonderful twist of emotion to the lyrics. While the lyrics draw you into a tale of relationships ending and the pain that follows, it is really the nuance of the vocal delivery that makes the single.
Dog Day God uses a brooding soundscape to draw you into the intimate and emotionally charged reflections of ‘Honestly, They’re Right’. There is a heavy dose of melancholy and weary acceptance woven into both the melody and vocals. While the lyrics draw you into the story, it is the music and vocals that really bring the emotional hits.
