The new album from Aidan Leclaire Band, Hail to the Dogs impresses with its alt-rock immediacy and poignant thematic introspection — taking particular inspiration from George Orwell’s Animal Farm and its allegorical critiques of totalitarianism. The band, based in Washington, D.C. and Northern VA, worked on the album with producers Ben Green (Ivakota Studios) and Nico Laget (Sweet Spot Studios), who help channel a seamless sound depictive of life’s simultaneous chaos and fragility.
“The album is meant to feel raw and dirty, but also beautiful,” the band’s frontman, Aidan Leclaire, says. “I wanted it to reflect how messy and fragile our lives can be, and how even in that chaos, there’s something worth holding onto.” Opening track “Good Boy” invigorates in its lyrical reflections of finding purpose, and ultimately emphasizing in that valuing of life. Whirring guitars and a punk-ready rhythmic presence complement vocals that balance discovering one’s purpose with the comparative ease of embracing escapism, as the riveting vocals conclude in planning to “walk off this earth to find another home.”
The ensuing “She’s Electric” captivates with a moodier overall arsenal, melding twangy guitar delights with a soothing vocal warmness — exuding a sense of perseverance in its “carry on” refrain, and continuing to convey the discovery of self in its displays of an actress accustomed to putting on “different faces.” A fervent rock approach returns on “Find Me,” withs it catching hook — “do you like me now?” — being fondly reminiscent of late ’90s and early ’00s power-pop/rock hybrids, a la Weezer and Rooney.
Another standout track arises in “Is This All There Is?” — where dreamy guitar jangles pair with “gonna change” vocal aspirations, as a relationship-in-tumult is artfully emitted. “Why does it always feel this hard?” the vocals wonder, showing shades of The Replacements in its enjoyable shifts from subdued vulnerabilities to ascending emotion. “Best Friend” comes next and dazzles in another aesthetic entirely, embracing a starry-eyed balladry with swooning vocal harmonies that complement a smitten lead vocal presence. Whistling and comforting vocal layers combine for an especially memorable send-off.
Album finale “Dark Days, Long Nights” is a hypnotic, meditative gem that wraps up the release with resonating impact. The title-touting refrain combines with conversational vocal effects as twangy guitars bolster the textured overall appeal. It’s another piece of high-quality songwriting on an album that consistently envelops with its mixture of melodic approachability and thematic ruminations on self-discovery and a society in flux. Hail to the Dogs is a thorough success from Aidan Leclaire Band.
