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Courtesy of myspace.com/therealpd
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Pavlov’s Dog is back again, news that will have prog rock fans in some quarters drooling like…well, like the real Pavlov’s Dog.
The group has released two new albums: a studio effort, “Echo & Boo,” and “Live and Unleashed,” a concert album recorded on a 2009 European tour.
For those of you who don’t remember—or indeed, weren’t alive during the Dog’s initial run—the St. Louis band was formed in the early ‘70s and released Pampered Menial in 1974. The album is a stone progressive-rock classic (its status as such having reaffirmed a few years back in a Mojo magazine survey of prog albums.) The follow-up, At the Sound of the Bell, featured contributions from Yes drummer Bill Bruford, Roxy Music reedman Andy MacKay and jazz saxophonist Michael Brecker.
Critical and popular response to the group was often deeply divided, though, usually over the subject of singer David Surkamp’s multi-octave voice. One the one hand, it’s a wonder: think Geddy Lee to about the 10th power. (Doubt me? Check out the YouTube clip below, not for the fan-supplied visuals, but for Surkamp’s vocals.)
Less charitable views included an entry in one of the Rolling Stone record guides that called Surkamp a “cross between [The Jefferson Airplane’s] Marty Balin and a vacuum cleaner.”
The Dog’s third album was shelved, the band’s manager split with the money and the group splintered. Surkamp was rumored dead from inhaling helium (which gave his voice its range, or so the story went.) But a new version of the band surfaced in 1990 and recorded Lost in America.
In 2004, as much of the classic lineup as could be summoned reunited for a memorable gig at the Pageant. The show created good vibes for fans (and raised money for charity to boot), but any plans for an ongoing reunion were soon dashed. Another version of the band coalesced around Surkamp, original drummer Mike Saffron and Surkamp’s vocalist/guitarist wife, Sara. The group has toured Europe frequently in the years hence.
Live and Unleashed is a treat for old fans as well as new. It features some classic Dog tracks (including “Of Once and Future Kings,” “Late November” and “Theme from Subway Sue”) as well as material from Surkamp’s 1980’s band with Iain[CQ] Matthews, HIFI, and his 1996 solo album, Dancing on the Edge of a Teacup, plus new material as well. Surkamp’s voice—still the band’s focal point—continues to have both range and power, and the band capably carries the prog tradition forward.
That’s also the case on Echo & Boo. It’s a bit moodier and more subdued than the live album, perhaps, but offers some unquestionably fine tracks such as “Angeline” and “We All Die Alone.” I’ll admit to some puzzlement over “The Death of North American Industry Suite,” an extended piece that includes a rendition of Stephen Foster’s “Oh Suzanna.” But despite such quibbles, it remains clear: This Dog still has some bite.
