But gradually the song deepened and mood darkened. “Each time the chorus circles around, the scene deepens, slowly turning the crank of the moment to twist its edge,” we continued. “Grandpa reading aloud from the newspaper. A printed letter addressed to a killer, a mother writing to a strangler of teenage girls.” The stakes seemed to heighten with every cycle, with “agency evaporating into something more ominous,” as we concluded. “People governed by powers beyond their control.” Not the usual slacker subject matter, but Here You Are showed that while The Roof Dogs are experts at sunny garage rock, there is so much more beneath the surface.

The Chicago band have now returned with ‘Tinsel Chapel’, a B-side to Here You Are which allows The Roof Dogs to show off yet another dimension of their sound. Namely a more placid, reflective aesthetic which draws on dream pop and psychedelic influences. The vocals are softened into this hazy soundscape, making for a vibe simultaneously nostalgic and mindful of its immediate surroundings. Fitting for a song about the power of simple beauty and the joys of free time. A song perhaps slacker at heart after all.

‘Tinsel Chapel’ is out now via Earth Libraries.

The post the Roof Dogs – Tinsel Chapel appeared first on Various Small Flames.

With its building, carefree rhythm and slacker cool, ‘Weather’ possesses all the hallmarks of a late summer hit, though dig a little deeper and something more interesting emerges. “I’ve become subservient to the weather,” goes the soon to be repeated refrain, before the song pitches the listener into a specific moment. A vignette brought to life with careful detail. Legs sticking to leather sofa cushions. Oil pastels. Yesterday’s Globe and Mail. “I’ve become subservient to the weather.”

Each time the chorus circles around, the scene deepens, slowly turning the crank of the moment to twist its edge. Grandpa reading aloud from the newspaper. A printed letter addressed to a killer, a mother writing to a strangler of teenage girls. “She says I got no doubts about your good intentions,” goes the missive, as read by Grandpa. “In fact, I think you’re teaching them a real good lesson / You can’t expect your next breath to happen at all.”

Then the refrain again. “I’ve become subservient to the weather,” cycling over and over. Each repetition growing in conviction as though the statement is reinforcing itself, or else the narrator is working harder to believe what they are saying. “I’ve become subservient to the weather.” Agency evaporating into something more ominous. People governed by powers beyond their control. “I’ve become subservient to the weather.”

Here You Are will be released on the 23rd November via Earth Libraries and you can pre-order it now.

The post The Roof Dogs – Weather appeared first on Various Small Flames.