Search - Pavlov's Dog :: Pampered Menial (Reis)

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Barnabas O'Collins | Valley of the Sun | 02/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was a teenager in the mid '70s, and I used to listen to WXRT (when they were a good, late night station) on my FM transistor radio with the tiny, yellow plastic earpiece at night when I went to bed. I remember one night, waking up to the sounds of Pavlov's Dog. I don't really remember which tune from Pampered Menial it was, all I knew was what a sound! I was blown away. I never did buy the album, and years later, something triggered that memory and I told my wife about it. She found the CD in a record store in downtown Chicago and I have been grateful to her, and for the music on that album.



Of course, the first thing everyone says that hears the Dog for the first time is that they sound like Rush or Surkamp and Geddy Lee are brothers or something. The bands are similar, in a way, but definitely have their own sound. You really can't mistake one for the other. I love them both dearly. For some reason, I have always been fond of singers of Surkamp's and Lee's ilk. But I digress.



This first effort is melodical, emotional, driving and simply excellent. Not a clinker in the lot. Whenever I play this CD, I have to listen to the entire disc. People will debate whether this or their second are better, I will cast my vote for Menial. every time I listen to it, it grabs me just like it did that late night 35 years ago.



A very distinctive sound from a band that really never got enough promotion outside the Midwest."