Following on from 2020's Rebuilding Permit and the big stir (see what I did there?) that the album created, Chaney embarked on a series of Radio Sessions, mainly for Woody Radio, Incidentally he kindly did a Session to celebrate the 100th Edition of the IDHAS Audio Extravaganza which was lauded loudly and rightly so.
To keep these Sessions fresh, Chaney revisited his back catalogue and played songs that he hadn't played for a long time. This allowed him to stretch himself on new arrangements and listeners realised that Rebuilding Permit may have been new to them, but it was a culmination of a career spanning over three decades.
Although his back catalogue had quality songs, all had been recorded hand to mouth on whatever lo fi equipment he could muster. It soon dawned that these songs deserved a wider audience, but needed revisiting and recording in a more modern setting with a producer capable of catching their glory. Enter Nick Bertling who plays on and produces the album.
When back catalogue is revisited by an artist, it is usually for copyright reasons and results in inferior versions. Here we have the opposite, songs that have been improved, aurally and in spirit. Most people wouldn't have heard these songs previously, so This Is Dolph Chaney virtually becomes a new album to all.
There is great variety provided within. You would expect that with songs written throughout a career, but the production doesn't reveal that, bar the odd song, it is hard to date them and Chaney's versatility shines through. It is therefore impossible to play the guessing game of what was written when. Cuddle Party sounds like something off the Footloose soundtrack when it was written in 2004.
Status Unknown opens the album and continues a recent refreshing Pop Rock album trend. Track 1 is no longer let them have it explosion of old. Openers are more reflective, moody even, before the noisier offerings that follow. Status Unknown is suitably moody and hypnotic.
There is lots here for you to shout out choruses to. I Wanted You fairly romps along and reminds me a lot of Nick Piunti. Now I'm A Man is straight out of FM Radio and My Good Twin shouts out Matthew Sweet at virtually every turn.
Beat It is a fine AOR ballad whilst it could be Pino Paladino playing Bass in early Paul Young style, on the wonderfully laidback Under The Overpass. Pleasant Under Glass is splendidly yee haw with a real country twang, aided by the Backing Vocals of a couple of Vapour Trails.
A special mention must be aimed at Graveyard Shift, a magnificent moody closer with Nick Bertling in Phil Collins Drumming mode. This Is Dolph Chaney is for all intents and purposes a fully fledged new album and underlines how bright the future is for Dolph Highly Recommended!
You can listen to the album on Bandcamp here. You can also buy the album there or on the Big Stir site here.
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