The Sheepdogs are a committed marriage of classic southern rock tone and more broad ’70s rock and soul arrangements. Clever use of silence, straight chord riffs, and keyboard make The Sheepdogs latest effort less of a southern drawl and more of a south-ish stomp and meander. Tracks like “I Really Wanna Be Your Man” and “Downtown” hold all their flavor in the guitar and vocal tone, but don’t short change the listener on folksy bass lines and soulful backing vocals.
On the whole, Future Nostalgia successfully navigates a dynamic tension while still maintaining their sound. At 18 tracks, the shtick can grow a bit tired, especially when you consider these country boys are from Canada. At times you might expect Starland Vocal Band to start in with “Afternoon Delight.”
That said, there is something undeniably charming and dare I say new-old authentic about the album in much the same way as Fitz and the Tantrums. Future Nostalgia is a quintessentially summer album, whether you’re driving down an empty two-lane or slinking down an alley next to a hot tin roof. Songs like “Bad Lieutenant” and “Darryl & Dwight” are truly solid numbers that will make even the most southern rock haters say hot damn, those kids can get down.
And they really can.
DJ’s be warned that if you play the track “Where I Can Roam” you may not notice it rolling right into the next track until you are well into “Giving It Up (For My Baby).”
Recommended If You Like: Fitz and the Tantrums, Foghat, Savoy Brown
Recommended Tracks: 3 (Downtown), 5 (Bad Lieutenant), 12 (Darryl & Dwight), 13 (Where I Can Roam), 15 (Plastic Man)
Do Not Play: None
Written by Matthew Kay on 10/05/15