Dogman (album)

Last updated

Dogman
Dogmankingsx.jpg
Studio album by
King's X
ReleasedJanuary 18, 1994
Genre Hard rock
Length59:16
Label Atlantic
Producer Brendan O'Brien
King's X chronology
King's X
(1992)		Dogman
(1994)		 Ear Candy
(1996)
Singles from Dogman
  1. "Dogman"
    Released: 1994
  2. "Fool You"
    Released: 1994
  3. "Pillow"
    Released: 1994
  4. "Pretend"
    Released: 1994

Dogman is the fifth studio album by American rock band King's X, released in 1994. It marks the band's second album under Atlantic and their first to not be produced by Sam Taylor; instead, the album was produced by Brendan O'Brien (who had recently worked with Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and The Black Crowes). Dogman signaled a heavier direction for King's X and, with strong approval from both critics and fans, is often considered one of their best works.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Background and recording

According to frontman Doug Pinnick, while longtime King's X producer Sam Taylor had a big influence on the band's sound, he never captured the heaviness of their live performance in the studio. Taylor ended production duties with King's X after four albums. When the high-profile Brendan O'Brien approached King's X about creating an album together, the band enthusiastically accepted. In the end the band actually favored some of the demos over the final songs, and these would later be released as Dogman Demos in 2005. [1] Nevertheless, working with O'Brien was a satisfying experience for King's X. In 1999, Pinnick described "Black the Sky" as his new "standard to mix to" due to its "big and fat" sound that simulated the band's live performance.

Music and lyrics

Although their previous self-titled effort featured dark themes and aggressive musicianship, Dogman was considerably heavier than previous albums and marked a transition in the band's sound. In 1999, Doug Pinnick reflected, "For me personally, the Dogman record is what King's X really sounds like. The self-titled record was a step and an eye-opener and after that we could just make our music." [2]

Along with the heavier sound - and in contrast to the occasionally uplifting Christian themes of earlier King's X albums - Pinnick's lyrics expressed his building frustration with religion. "[A]ll of the records", he stated in 2005, "are always me questioning 'Is this really it?' because I grew up in a religious family all my life and I have always been going: something ain't right here. So I have always sung about what I thought wasn't right - my confusion and my disillusion with it. And then finally when Dogman came out I just spewed it all out. I was pissed at that point. Everybody was like: 'he's not Christian anymore.' Everybody got freaked out." [3]

Touring and promotion

Dogman was promoted with performances including Woodstock '94 and opening slots for Pearl Jam, Mötley Crüe, the Scorpions and Type O Negative.

The album artwork by Leon Alvarado was released in four color variations: red, yellow, green, and blue.

The album's title track was its first single and music video. According to Doug Pinnick, "Dogman" received strong radio rotation in New York but the lack of a hit single hampered the album's commercial success. [4] To date, "Dogman" remains King's X's last charting single, peaking at number 20 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The album produced three more singles: "Fool You", [5] "Pillow" [6] and the radio-only "Pretend", [7] but none charted.

A concert in Dallas, Texas was filmed during the Dogman tour and released as a two-disc CD entitled Live & Live Some More via Molken Music in 2007.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 10/10 [9]
Entertainment Weekly B− [10]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [11]

Dogman was critically well-received upon its release. Chuck Eddy of Entertainment Weekly described the heavier sound as "less muddled than [King's X's previous] attempts at Beatles-derived psychedelic pop", and in a 4/5 star review, AllMusic's Alex Henderson praised the varied musical styles despite the album's heaviness, noting that King's X "addresses spiritual concerns without trying to force its beliefs on anyone."

Accolades

YearPublicationCountryAccoladeRank
1996VisionsGermany"The Eternal Readers Charts"31 [12]
"*" denotes an unordered list.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Doug Pinnick, Ty Tabor and Jerry Gaskill, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dogman" 4:01
2."Shoes" 3:29
3."Pretend" 4:36
4."Flies and Blue Skies" 5:00
5."Black the Sky" 4:32
6."Fool You" 4:31
7."Don't Care" 4:39
8."Sunshine Rain" 4:35
9."Complain" 3:19
10."Human Behavior" 4:28
11."Cigarettes" 5:52
12."Go to Hell" 0:51
13."Pillow" 4:24
14."Manic Depression" Jimi Hendrix 4:59

Chart performance

ChartPeak
Swedish Album Chart 46 [13]
Swiss Album Chart47 [14]
UK Albums Chart 49 [15]
U.S. Billboard 200 88 [16]

Singles - Billboard (North America)

YearSingleChartPosition
1994"Dogman"Mainstream Rock Tracks20

Personnel

King's X
Production

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's X</span> American rock band

King's X is an American rock band formed in Springfield, Missouri in 1979. They were first called the Edge and later became Sneak Preview before settling on their current name in 1985. The band's current lineup has remained intact for more than four decades, consisting of vocalist and bassist Doug Pinnick, drummer Jerry Gaskill and guitarist Ty Tabor. Their music combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. Despite a largely underground reputation as the "musician's musicians", King's X was pivotal in the early development of progressive metal, and produced a series of early records considered essential within the genre. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance. King's X was ranked No. 83 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.

<i>Kings X</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Kings X

King's X is the fourth studio album by American rock band King's X, released in 1992 through Atlantic Records. The album marked the end of the band's relationship with producer Sam Taylor.

<i>Ear Candy</i> (Kings X album) 1996 studio album by Kings X

Ear Candy is the sixth studio album by American rock band King's X, released in 1996. It was produced by Arnold Lanni and King's X.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Pinnick</span> American bassist and singer

Douglas Theodore Pinnick, sometimes stylized as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg, is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, co-lead vocalist, and songwriter for the hard rock and progressive metal band King's X. He has performed on 15 albums with King's X and recorded four solo albums. Pinnick has also participated in numerous side projects and has multiple guest appearances to his credit. He is recognized for his unique vocals, and heavily distorted bass tone. Pinnick often plays bass with a guitar pick, though he has also been seen using his fingers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ty Tabor</span> American musician

Ty Tabor is an American musician. He is the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock band King's X. Tabor has a wide-ranging guitar style, from big guitar riffs to middling melodic passages. His use of volume swells and ambient passages add an elemental texture to his compositions. He names his main influences as the Beatles, Allan Holdsworth, Johnny Winter, Ace Frehley, Mel Galley, Brian May, Alex Lifeson, Phil Keaggy, and the original Alice Cooper band. In 2008, Tabor was added to the guitar show "Chop Shop's" list of "Top 100 Most Complete Guitar Players of All Time" at number 84.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Gaskill</span> American drummer

Jerry Wayne Gaskill is an American rock musician who is the drummer for King's X.

<i>Out of the Silent Planet</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Kings X

Out of the Silent Planet is the debut studio album by the American rock band King's X, released in 1988. The title of the album comes from that of a book by C.S. Lewis, an author favored by band members Ty Tabor and Jerry Gaskill. "Out of the Silent Planet" is also the title of the first track from the follow-up album Gretchen Goes to Nebraska. The cover art features the skyline of Houston with the southern outline of the state of Texas. The album received widespread acclaim from music contemporaries. Pantera bassist Rex Brown commented of his and Dimebag Darrell's impressions, noting "Dime called me and said, 'Dude, have you heard this? Have you checked out King's X?'" He says. "We went on a long road trip, and we must have listened to that first record I don't know how many times, and we couldn't stop! This was the sound that Dime and I were always looking for."

<i>Gretchen Goes to Nebraska</i> 1989 studio album by Kings X

Gretchen Goes to Nebraska is the second studio album by American rock band King's X. It is a concept album based on a short story written by drummer Jerry Gaskill. Having received strong critical praise and fan support, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska is considered among the best work of King's X and a seminal record within the progressive metal genre.

<i>Faith Hope Love</i> 1990 studio album by Kings X

Faith Hope Love is the third studio album by the American rock band King's X. "Six Broken Soldiers" is the first King's X song to feature drummer Jerry Gaskill on lead vocals.

<i>Best of Kings X</i> 1997 compilation album by Kings X

Best of King's X is a compilation album by American rock band King's X. The songs on this compilation, spanning a decade of discography, were selected by fans in an online poll.

<i>Tape Head</i> 1998 studio album by Kings X

Tape Head is the seventh studio album by American rock band King's X, released in 1998 via Metal Blade Records.

<i>Please Come Home... Mr. Bulbous</i> 2000 studio album by Kings X

Please Come Home... Mr. Bulbous is the eighth studio album by American rock band King's X. It was released in 2000 via Metal Blade Records.

<i>Manic Moonlight</i> 2001 studio album by Kings X

Manic Moonlight is the ninth studio album by American rock band King's X, released in 2001 via Metal Blade Records. The album was notable for its inclusion of electronic loops.

<i>Black Like Sunday</i> 2003 studio album by Kings X

Black Like Sunday is the tenth studio album by American rock band King's X. The songs on this album are rare and originally unreleased recordings that were re-recorded by fan demand. The cover was painted by a fan that won a contest.

<i>Live All Over the Place</i> 2004 live album by Kings X

Live All Over the Place, released in 2004, is the first official live album by King's X. A double CD set, it was also the band's final album for Metal Blade Records. It was the twelfth King's X album release.

<i>XV</i> (Kings X album) 2008 studio album by Kings X

XV is the twelfth studio album by American rock band King's X, released in May 2008. It is the band's second album after 2005's Ogre Tones to chart on the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 145. The album also charted on the Independent Albums chart and Billboard Comprehensive Albums. The Roman numeral XV means 15, as this is their 15th album, counting live albums and compilations. Although King's X had continued to be active in the years after its release, XV was the band's last studio album until the 2022 release of their follow-up record Three Sides of One.

<i>Ogre Tones</i> 2005 studio album by Kings X

Ogre Tones is the 11th full-length studio album by American rock band King's X. Released in 2005, it is their first record on the Inside Out Music label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Flag (song)</span> 1992 single by Kings X

"Black Flag" is a song by the American rockband King's X. It was released as a single in support of their 1992 self-titled album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dogman (song)</span> 1994 single by Kings X

"Dogman" is a song by the American rock band King's X. It was released as a single in support of their 1994 album Dogman.

<i>Three Sides of One</i> 2022 studio album by Kings X

Three Sides of One is the 13th studio album by American rock band King's X, released on September 2, 2022, through Inside Out Music. It is their first studio album in fourteen years, since 2008's XV, marking the longest gap between two studio albums in their career.

References

  1. ↑ Prato, Greg Interview with King's X Guitarist Ty Tabor Guitar Site (July 8, 2008). Retrieved on 1-16-11.
  2. ↑ Kelter, Christopher J. FIFTEEN YEARS WITH KING'S X Archived September 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine RoughEdge.com (March 1999). Retrieved on 1-16-11.
  3. ↑ Interview with Doug Pinnick FromOutofNoWhere.com (2006). Retrieved on 1-16-11.
  4. ↑ Doug Pinnick interview from March 1999 SteveLawson.net (March 1999). Retrieved on 1-16-11.
  5. ↑ "King's X Fool You (Single)- Spirit of Metal Webzine (en)". spirit-of-metal.com.
  6. ↑ "Albums by King's X: Discography, songs, biography, and listening guide - Rate Your Music". rateyourmusic.com.
  7. ↑ "KNAC A to Z". KNAC Tribute Page. Archived from the original on March 5, 2000. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  8. ↑ Henderson, Alex. Dogman at AllMusic
  9. ↑ Popoff, Martin (2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 228. ISBN   978-1-894959-62-9.
  10. ↑ Eneterainment Weekly review 1/28/94
  11. ↑ Q 2/94, p.93
  12. ↑ "Visions - The Eternal Readers Charts". Visions. Archived from the original on December 27, 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
  13. ↑ "King's X - Dogman". SwedishCharts.com. Retrieved December 20, 2007.
  14. ↑ "King's X - Dogman". HitParade.ch. Retrieved December 20, 2007.
  15. ↑ "Official Charts Company". Official Charts . Retrieved May 16, 2012., UK charts page for King's X
  16. ↑ "King's X album charts [albums]". Billboard . Retrieved December 20, 2007.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.