soulless dogs

If bands' names were accurate descriptors for their sound, the Soulless Dogs' new record Loose Cannonry would be a terribly boring affair. Thankfully, this campus blues/gospel/jazz/rock/funk quartet has more soul than it knows what to do with.

At just more than 30 minutes, the band's eight-track release on Small Town Records showcases their original sound and diverse influences.

Surprisingly, one of the band's most dominant influences is not musical. Duke plays a large role in much of the album's lyrical content. With a pointed song about the Duke hook-up scene to songs written about specific students, it is clear that this band is quite familiar with the university they call home.

"Richard Feynman" might just be the Pratt student's perfect anthem. Described by Dogs' lead vocalist, keyboardist and guitarist Ben Shelton as "Warren Zevon meets the Band," this bizarre track details a life of math integrals and strippers. It could be the birth a whole new genre of music-what Shelton calls "nerd gospel."

This is a band that clearly likes to jam, and Loose Cannonry shows this. From bebop-inspired sax to swirling guitars, the Soulless Dogs have a record that is grounded in its instrumentation. Shelton has an unnatural vocal talent that works well with the band's sound.

What the future holds for these Dogs is unknown, but they have plenty of soul to bring them through it.