Big Black Dog

Folk roots rock with a strong guitar centered, Chet Aktins hillbilly virtuosity juxtaposed by sweet pop sentiments, crystalline female vocs/duets with male vocals. Great songwriting and playing, a husband-wife team from Birminham Alabama with true chemistry. Traditional harmonies bring to mind Mamas and Papas, Emmylou Harris. For fans of Fort Wilson Riot, Neko Case, Wilco. Primo stuff, just lovely, and I’m a pretty big snob when it comes to anything smacking of alt.country having lived it 20 years ago.

1) (2:51) upbeat, train chug beat, pretty melody simply phrased, title track
2) (3:32) drop dead lovely duet, strong folk roots ballady w/ maracas
3) (4:42) upbeat bouncy beat, very pretty vocals, guitar and percussion only
4) (3:18) same beat as previous – this song showcases fat smoking ripping western guitar riffage – spaghetti western dark toned overall, don’t miss
5) (4:11) ¾ waltzing, minor ballad, excellent self reflective lyrics sung by girl
6) (3:45) minimal ballad, male vocs
7) (3:40) mountain picking music, traditional feel singalong
8) (2:23) soaring melodic chorus, weaker track seems less fleshed out
9) (3:08) pretty ballad, simple pleasant lyrics sung by boy
10) (3:32) upbeat strummy guitar, fem vocs
11) (0:51) brief experimental looped snippet revisiting the title chorus