Smiling Dogs

For you consideration: The debut album of once Colorado's, but now Brooklyn's, MAN'S GIN.

Moody, pensive and urgent, Smiling Dogs plays like a series of crime scene snapshots- each offering more questions than answers. Fronted by Cobalt's Erik Wunder, Man's Gin is one of the most innovative musical endeavors of 2010. The vocals of Wunder could easily draw comparisons to a young Chris Cornell while the tone of the album will inevitably draw comparisons to other Seattle luminaries from the 1990's (i.e. Alice in Chains). Think grunge, only darker and more menacing. And while such comparisons are inevitable, Man's Gin has more in common with the dark Americana of 16 Horsepower or the many expressions of a Mr. Dax Riggs (Acid Bath, Deadboy and the Elephantmen, etc.). Ultimately though, Smiling Dogs is an album with a distinct presence all its' own. It pulls the listener into a world of frustration, murder, confusion and despair... all with a pile of blood soaked money on the bed.

If you have already compiled your "Best of 2010" mixtape for you and your cat to listen to at your New Year's Eve party, I must request that you delete Like a G6 and make some room for Man's Gin.

...enjoy...