It's a dangerous game to play; paying homage to
Waits's singing style. Per Ahman of Sweden's Dogbreath
occasionally strays into that territory, but gets away
with it because - not to put too fine a point on it -
his band are bloody fantastic.

The first track of their second album, Taste It!
(www.snurl.com/dogbreath) sets the tone. There's a
soupcon of Tom; but more of the Screaming Blue
Messiahs, Wilko Johnson-era Dr Feelgood and danceable
punkers, Gang Of Four. Indeed the speed-funk of Fuck
It Up suggests that James Brown has relatives in
up-country Sweden. Getting to the third song in, Gotta
Go - driven by a monstrous Bastard Son Of Bo Diddley
Beat, shot through with caterwauling slide and
industrial strength rhythm guitar - I was idiot-dancing around the bedroom throwing shapes with imaginary axe in hand. Then blow me if, next up, they don't launch into Hold Me, the toughest pop song I've heard in many a moon. If Franz Ferdinand can chart so
can this extraordinarily talented lot. Fuzz, cut, crunch and in the midst of all that, GROOVE with a capital GRRRRRRR...!!

Joe Cushley Blues Matters Nr. 24