Disco de Screeching Weasel: “Bark Like a Dog”

On 'Bark Like A Dog,' Screeching Weasel deliver a strong album of melodic punk rock tunes. Lyrically, Ben Weasel's at the top of his game. The quiet desperation of "It's Not Enough" and the carpe diem sentiments of "The First Day Of Summer" both inspire. The keyboard riff in the snide "Cool Kids" will have you dancing around your room while the comical "Phasers on Kill" will surely evoke a smile. As usual, bassist Dan Vapid adds superb backing vocals that turn good songs into great songs. The album culminates with the tender ballad "You Name Is Tattooed On My Heart." Overall, 'Bark Like A Dog' is a stellar release and one of the finer moments in the vast Screeching Weasel catalog.

The vocals on this album are so poppy, whiny, and juvenile that as a fan of bands like Rancid, AFI, and Weezer, I should definitely hate this album. Yet, I can't. The "whoahhh" filled songs are so catchy and the awesome melodies so constant that I can't help liking this. In fact, it's one of my favorite cds ever. All the songs are awesome, particularly #2 and #6. If you've ever liked Blink or NOFX and you don't care about what the lead singer's talking about, then this album is a must-buy.

Reforming after their second break up following their album "How to Make Enemies and Irritate People," a slightly new lineup finds Ben Weasel and Jughead surrounded by some newcomers, and the result is a band that sounds more like a Weasel cover band than the real deal.

Having signed to Fat Mike's Fat Wreck Chords Label, the band opted for a slightly slicker production sound than on their prior releases. Although this turned many fans off, the songwriting, however, carries this album. Cool Kids, I Will Always Be There, and First Day of Summer are songs that might not sound out of place on My Brain Hurts had they been recorded back then.

Acting as a bit of an indicator of where their career was heading, Bark Like A Dog is a decent release worth at least hearing. Not as strong as Anthem, but certainly not as weak as Emo, this is definitely classic Screeching Weasel tailor made for any fan of catchy three chord nose thumbing music

If the Beach Boys were a pop punk band in the 1990's, then this is exactly the way that they'd sound. This is not exactly a classic Screeching Weasel record, but it is not entirley bad either. If you are a newcomer to the band, then this disc would be an excellent start (either this or My Brain Hurts)

This record is the most California-esque Screeching weasel album, with each song polished with catchy pop melodies and the famous Weasel humor. After listenning to this record nearly a thousand times, the aspect that draws me back are the lyrics. Almost every song's tempo is quick and powerful, except for "Your Name Is Tatooed On My Heart" & "It's Not Enough," which I believe is the best song on the record. This song gives an early glimpse at what is to come in later records, such as "Emo." Overall, the record is very easy to listen to, but the lyrics keep it from being watered down so much that you'd start to feel like you were going to puke.

This Cd has some of Screeching Weasel's best tunes such as Cool Kids and Stupid Girl. If you like punk, and especially Screeching Weasel this is their one CD you must get if any other.