Philadelphia is fertile ground for creative indie rock bands, and Granddogs embodies all the musical experimentation, creativity, and skill the city has to offer. The self-described “parlorcore” trio unfurls epic songs of love, loss, shame, anger, and acceptance on Peaches. The grandiose storytelling is only matched by the tightly-constructed arrangements of piano, drums, bass, and voice.
Even in some of the more far-fetched stories — like the casual murder-suicide of “My Oh My! Caroline” — and psychedelic “Goddess of Love” there is an earthy realness here. In other words, if the Doors had laid off the acid (or maybe just had better trips), they’d mirror the swirling intensity and puckishness of Granddogs. “Wither on the Vine,” which we’ve featured previously, is Peaches‘ emotional keystone, a maelstrom of pain and the fear that comes with change, packaged in an intimate and friendly setting.
But the twee aesthetics shouldn’t distract from Granddogs’ message: the trio demonstrate a rare intensity and confidence in their art. They’ve got a lot to say and know how to say it. Just beneath a laid-back surface is an intricate mass of emotion emotion and meaning, an important reminder that we should approach all of the people in our lives with such intent and acknowledgment.
Granddogs — Linktree, Bandcamp, Instagram, TikTok
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