Dogfish Jones

for those interested in "Christian" music that surpasses most all other Christian music, and most all other secular music, this is a great disc, a little hard to get, but worth it, 5 stars all the way

The album was fine to listen to.

It’s fair to say that I’m a huge Michael Knott fan. I have most of his many (and incredibly diverse) albums, I traveled over a couple of western States to see him in concert, and I’ve decided to write detailed reviews of all of his proper releases (not comp or live albums or mixed albums). This guy deserves no less. His songs and artistry have been an inspiration and encouragement to me, wearing his heart and faults on his sleeve, challenging my assumptions, and declaring the beauty of his Lord and Savior often in the midst of pain and trauma and confusion. He also does a great job of sympathizing with people in general and tells some funny, heartbreaking, and engaging stories about a variety of true characters he’s encountered but he never turns them into caricatures. All of this is to say that I’m not blind to what works and what doesn’t, or that I love everything he puts out. I don’t. Case in point: “Dogfish Jones”. No matter how many times I’ve listened to it I can’t get into it. For me it is one of if not my least favorite Knott release. Why? Some possible/probable reasons are that the tempo of many of the songs and thus the overall album is simply slow, especially over the first half. This sets an expectation and while the second half’s tempo picks up the proverbial wind is already out of the sails. Another BIG reason is that there’s a lot of organ music spread throughout and I’ve never been a big fan of most of the Hammond organ sounds incorporated into songs. If you like those sounds then by all means give this disc a spin, you’ll likely enjoy it. Perhaps another reason is that this is a concept album (Dogfish Jones travels over the seas/ navigates the trials of life—is Jones a reference to Michael’s father? To himself? To both?) but it’s not the fact that it is a concept album, it’s that the concept is an allegory and not clearly conveyed. It’s hard to care for the character without some more specifics, or a tighter story. Lastly, there’s just so much repetition. Knott has always been one to repeat. It’s been part and parcel of his structure. But on this release there is so much repetition! It wears out welcomes to several songs.So is there anything I like about this album? Knott comes up with some nice melodies. Though this is way overused of so much music it’s also nonetheless true but there’s a Beatles influence that bleeds through. That’s something I’ve never heard on any other Knott project. The sheer variety and amount of music, “Dogfish Jones” included, continues to awe me. So there’s that, and a couple of songs I like okay. But it’s not enough. I’m sad to give this a 2.5 rating, but I must. I always come back and listen to it every few years, hoping that I’ll like it more, but never do. I never enjoy this listening experience.1) Dogfish Jones ~ Lots of repetition (lyric and melody) and a chorus that is a little like nails on a chalkboard.2) Storm At Sea ~ A sea shanty!!! Sung by Michael’s father, Howard Knott. Is it me or do all sea shanties sound Irish?3) Let Me Out ~ Gene Eugene supplies the boppy B3 Organ heard on this track. One of the stronger tracks on the album. Doesn’t go all over the map but goes different places than one would expect.4) Barnacle Bob ~ There are layered, harmony vocals that makes this sound unnecessarily busy shooting right out of the gate, also heavy on the drums and especially percussion. After a minute or so it transforms into a more typical Knott tune complete with some spoken word storytelling.5) Down ~ Gene Eugene shows up again with the Organ grinding again. The song, appropriate to its title, is downtuned with this being felt especially on the second half of the song. It almost feels like two songs. Again suffers from too much repetition. Drags on way too long. That Hammond B3 Organ music has never been my favorite and there’s a lot of it on this track, so…not my favorite.6) Greensea Island ~ The previous song ended on a downtuned note. This song goes further. It’s ponderous, slow tempo feels not like you’re exploring a lush green sea island but that you are stuck in the seaweed slowly moving. Heavy use of the organ again. Knott’s vocals are clear at least, and not multi-tracked.7) Hated Souls ~ Another slow moving tune with an underbed of organ music. The guitar, thankfully, is more prominent at least and there’s a simple melodic sweep and obvious chorus. Not a great song by any stretch but it breaks us out of the trudge of tracks 5 & 6.8) Tell of the Well ~ A playful song, more in Michael’s wheelhouse. Lots of layered vocals on this, a buzzy background guitar, and a little funkiness. Great rolling rhythms provided by the drums (thanks Mr. Chuck Cummings).9) Mercy Maid ~ One of the more memorable songs. Lots of repetition.10) Magical Rainbow Door ~ A dancing organ, very lively, shows up and helps to give this song a Beatles-esque flavor. Mixing metaphors “dead man’s curve” and racing are added to the seafaring allegory. Allegedly written with his daughter.11) Seashell Sally ~ Organ. Repetition. Multiple vocal tracks/layering. Also memorable, with a moderate tempo and again overstays its welcome.12) Edge ~ The most driving and guitar-centered track. It’s a rock tune. Not hard. Not even heavy. But satisfying. Finally, after eleven tracks. It’s also the track that boasts the most non-repetitive lyrics.13) Shanghai Overdrive ~ The guitar celebrates its feature…but it’s buried a little too deeply at times especially under all of the repetitious vocal melodies.14) The Boyos ~ Another shanty, sung in round. You just want to take a pint and jig it over your head mindless of the slosh. The most memorable song on the album.A couple of closing comments. One reviewer mentioned this release as ….“Christian” music that surpasses all other Christian music, and most secular music…”. As far as the music goes that’s always a personal/preferential issue but these songs are hardly Knott’s best and I think that one has to take the criticism of repetition seriously. As to the “Christian” label it is well known that Michael Knott is a Christian and he’s done some work, such as praise and worship offerings, and has incorporated his faith in obvious ways in a variety of his band and solo projects. This may be true too of “Dogfish Jones” but you’d have to dig, deep, to discover it. It’s not just not obvious, it’s that if it’s there it’s allegorical (sorry, that’s a lot of “its”). To anyone thinking they were going to get an obviously “Christian” music CD they’d be way, way, way off. And for anyone scared off by that label, they simply needn’t be. This concept is more along the lines of an allegory, like Plato’s “The Cave”, though there seems to be a lot of Knott history steeped in the story. If you’re looking at this release for a buy but haven’t heard Michael Knott’s other concept albums “Grace Shaker” and “Fluid” then I’d direct you to either of those releases. They’re great.