An anthology of almost 20 years of Americana rock.
For someone like this writer with very little in the way of an attention span, a 31-count tracklist on a single album is nothing short of daunting. So for a band that some might not be very familiar with, thirty-one songs is a mountain.
This isn’t the case for Track Dogs. Those who have followed the band since their formation in 2006 will recognise many of the songs, with some stretching all the way back to their 2012 self-titled debut. Alongside old favourites and several new singles and covers, “Tracks Laid, Tracks Covered” celebrates their upcoming, twenty-year anniversary. The first disc, “Tracks Laid”, includes five new songs, while Disc 2, “Tracks Covered”, includes their most beloved covers that have typically only been performed live.
From a practical standpoint, it’s hard to review music that’s been out for over ten years, but as an album, Track Dogs have selected the very best of their catalogue and provided a thread throughout. The middle part of Disc 1 really shines, with most of the songs centred on disillusionment, whether it be with a lover or the world in general. In ‘On The Last Night’ the Dogs muse that the difficult road “could be a sign of the times, who knows, we’ll get through somehow”, and in ‘So Much Dust’, they speculate on how much more injustice one can abide. “You do all you can, to fight the fight like a man”. A very apt choice in contemplating what lies ahead these days.
The new songs, including “Amor De Mi Vida”, “Beauty in the Mud”, and “Bridges Are All Burnt” stick out against each other, the first sounding distinctly ranchera, and the last a quieter, jazz-influenced number with a wonderful trumpet throughout the three tracks.
Seamlessly blending the genres they treasure, Track Dogs are one of those bands that have truly done their own thing and kept at it and “Tracks Laid, Tracks Covered” is a wonderful reflection of that. Whether you’ve been a longtime fan or are keen to dive into their catalogue, this is the perfect spot to jump in.
