Norm Dogs Norm Dogs cassette
Little four-track cassette from NORM DOGS—a band I can’t find much about. They’ve played at Angry Cat Shows out of Copenhagen, so I assume that’s their locale? This lo-fi tape sounded like absolute shit on my truck speakers (which sound like absolute shit anyway), but after a listen on my home stereo, I began to enjoy the DIY recording and playfulness that I missed on my first listen. NORM DOGS play a garage-y sound and have as many similarities to the jangle of the BATS as they do with the esoteric spoofs of the DEAD MILKMEN. A rattling guitar, a bass that ceaselessly marches upfront in the mix, simple percussion, and fun, yet earnest vocals. While I kind of wrote off the cassette, with its cartoon logo, a picture of the band, and no more text than the song titles, before I gave it a chance, I enjoy proving myself wrong. Let all the shining production of sound and style rest, and just listen to the band! The fact that they have no online presence, recorded and produced this album themselves, and that it made it through numerous hands to my little desk, just proves this whole thing—MRR’s reach, the punk hive-mind writ large—is working. So, if you can find them, go out and listen to NORM DOGS! Big ups to these dudes.