{"id":48,"date":"2022-04-20T16:27:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T16:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/owenkroppsblog\/?p=48"},"modified":"2022-08-29T16:38:34","modified_gmt":"2022-08-29T16:38:34","slug":"willy-nilly-dogs-in-heaven-album-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/owenkroppsblog\/2022\/04\/20\/willy-nilly-dogs-in-heaven-album-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Willy Nilly &#8220;Dogs in Heaven&#8221; Album Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Willy Nilly\u2019s&nbsp;<em>Dogs in Heaven&nbsp;<\/em>is the group\u2019s first full-length album and gives a very introspective and sentimental feel through its hard-hitting lyrics and ethereal instrumentation.&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-_ff2189-0a .kt-block-spacer{height:22px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-_ff2189-0a .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:#eee;width:80%;border-top-style:solid;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-spacer aligncenter kt-block-spacer-_ff2189-0a\"><div class=\"kt-block-spacer kt-block-spacer-halign-center\"><hr class=\"kt-divider\"\/><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-iconlist.kt-svg-icon-list-items_f00e93-2e:not(.this-stops-third-party-issues){margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-iconlist.kt-svg-icon-list-items_f00e93-2e ul.kt-svg-icon-list:not(.this-prevents-issues):not(.this-stops-third-party-issues):not(.tijsloc){margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);margin-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-iconlist.kt-svg-icon-list-items_f00e93-2e ul.kt-svg-icon-list{grid-row-gap:5px;}.wp-block-kadence-iconlist.kt-svg-icon-list-items_f00e93-2e ul.kt-svg-icon-list .kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap .kt-svg-icon-list-single{margin-right:10px;}.kt-svg-icon-list-items_f00e93-2e ul.kt-svg-icon-list .kt-svg-icon-list-level-0 .kt-svg-icon-list-single svg{font-size:20px;}.kt-svg-icon-list-items_f00e93-2e ul.kt-svg-icon-list .kt-svg-icon-list-level-1 .kt-svg-icon-list-single svg{font-size:20px;}.kt-svg-icon-list-items_f00e93-2e ul.kt-svg-icon-list .kt-svg-icon-list-level-2 .kt-svg-icon-list-single svg{font-size:20px;}.kt-svg-icon-list-items_f00e93-2e ul.kt-svg-icon-list .kt-svg-icon-list-level-3 .kt-svg-icon-list-single svg{font-size:20px;}.kt-svg-icon-list-items_f00e93-2e ul.kt-svg-icon-list .kt-svg-icon-list-level-4 .kt-svg-icon-list-single svg{font-size:20px;}.kt-svg-icon-list-items_f00e93-2e ul.kt-svg-icon-list .kt-svg-icon-list-level-5 .kt-svg-icon-list-single svg{font-size:20px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-iconlist kt-svg-icon-list-items kt-svg-icon-list-items_f00e93-2e kt-svg-icon-list-columns-1 alignnone\"><ul class=\"kt-svg-icon-list\"><li class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-style-default kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-0 kt-svg-icon-list-level-0\"><div style=\"display:inline-flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center\" class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single kt-svg-icon-list-single-fe_checkCircle\"><svg style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M22 11.08V12a10 10 0 1 1-5.93-9.14\"><\/path><polyline points=\"22 4 12 14.01 9 11.01\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/div><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\"><strong>RELEASED: DECEMBER 11, 2021<\/strong><\/span><\/li><li class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-style-default kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-1 kt-svg-icon-list-level-0\"><div style=\"display:inline-flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center\" class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single kt-svg-icon-list-single-fe_checkCircle\"><svg style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M22 11.08V12a10 10 0 1 1-5.93-9.14\"><\/path><polyline points=\"22 4 12 14.01 9 11.01\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/div><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\"><strong>LABEL: SELF-RELEASED<\/strong><\/span><\/li><li class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-style-default kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-2 kt-svg-icon-list-level-0\"><div style=\"display:inline-flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center\" class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single kt-svg-icon-list-single-fe_checkCircle\"><svg style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M22 11.08V12a10 10 0 1 1-5.93-9.14\"><\/path><polyline points=\"22 4 12 14.01 9 11.01\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/div><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\"><strong>MOVEMENT: FOLK\/INDIE-ROCK<\/strong><\/span><\/li><li class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-style-default kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-3 kt-svg-icon-list-level-0\"><div style=\"display:inline-flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center\" class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single kt-svg-icon-list-single-fe_checkCircle\"><svg style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M22 11.08V12a10 10 0 1 1-5.93-9.14\"><\/path><polyline points=\"22 4 12 14.01 9 11.01\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/div><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\"><strong>LANE: JAMES BAY \/ NEED TO BREATHE \/ THE LUMINEERS<\/strong><\/span><\/li><li class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-style-default kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-4 kt-svg-icon-list-level-0\"><div style=\"display:inline-flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center\" class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single kt-svg-icon-list-single-fe_checkCircle\"><svg style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M22 11.08V12a10 10 0 1 1-5.93-9.14\"><\/path><polyline points=\"22 4 12 14.01 9 11.01\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/div><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\"><strong>RATING: 5 \/ 10<\/strong><\/span><\/li><li class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-style-default kt-svg-icon-list-item-wrap kt-svg-icon-list-item-5 kt-svg-icon-list-level-0\"><div style=\"display:inline-flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center\" class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-single kt-svg-icon-list-single-fe_checkCircle\"><svg style=\"display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M22 11.08V12a10 10 0 1 1-5.93-9.14\"><\/path><polyline points=\"22 4 12 14.01 9 11.01\"><\/polyline><\/svg><\/div><span class=\"kt-svg-icon-list-text\"><strong>HEAT: YOURS, PASSING THOUGHT, HOME ALONE<\/strong><\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Released on Dec. 11, 2021,&nbsp;<em>Dogs in Heaven&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;features 11 tracks for a total runtime of just over 40 minutes. Based out of Kingston, Ont., the album centres around the theme \u201cof trying to plant your feet in a world that seems to be trying to outrun you.\u201d per their bio on Spotify.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a soft listen whose hard-hitting lyrics are contrasted by breezy and flowing instrumentals. There are a lot of things the group does well in this album.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, the catchy riff and raspy vocals on \u201cPassing Thought\u201d make it a stand-out track. Furthermore, the aggressive guitar and harmonica on \u201cHome Alone\u201d are sure to make listeners tap their feet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYours\u201d is definitely the best track on the project and shows its full potential. The addition of the banjo is nice and makes the track easier to sing along to. On top of that, it maximizes lead vocalist Max Tinline\u2019s abilities, feeling like it was a song written for him to sing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Dogs In Heaven\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"380\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/3xaou2yvFffPnSOu9dSUS4?utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing this album struggles with the most is songs that are the group\u2019s own style but still uniquely different at the same time. It\u2019s easy to listen to this and not know one song from another. Aside from the aforementioned stand-out tracks, the rest are a bit forgettable and repetitive.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most unique thing about Willy Nilly is the way they write their lyrics. Oftentimes the lyrics are written in a way that the thought presented in one line isn\u2019t completed until halfway through the next line.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Combined with a delivery that is a little offbeat, it creates the effect of the lyrics blending together. This effect is a hallmark of the album and can be seen in nearly every song. While unique, it can also present some drawbacks. As a folk\/indie rock band, Willy Nilly\u2019s goal in some part should be to create songs that their fans can sing along to.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While this definitely shouldn\u2019t be the goal for every song, it\u2019s important for their growth as an artist to include this in some capacity. That said, the fast, uniquely off-beat delivery of the lyrics can make them hard to follow and thus, sing&nbsp;along to.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A compromise between the two is what\u2019s best for this young group.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without a doubt, the lyrics are the best part of this group. From talking about family relationships to strained romances to struggling through the mess of life, there are some very well-crafted lyrics in this album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Look no further than \u201cI\u2019ve been slipping through the cracks in my mind, they\u2019ve opened into canyons this time,\u201d and \u201cI\u2019ve been toeing the line between family and stranger for some time,\u201d off of \u201cSentimental\u201d. \u201cSo I\u2019ll scrape by soaking up pity committing petty crimes,\u201d off of \u201cPassing Thought\u201d is just one line taken out of many great ones in that song.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, for a first album&nbsp;<em>Dogs in Heaven&nbsp;<\/em>is solid. It doesn\u2019t do anything tremendously well and it\u2019s not super memorable but it shows good potential and some unparalleled traits that, if developed properly, could blossom into something great. What this group does next is going to be interesting to watch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Willy Nilly\u2019s&nbsp;Dogs in Heaven&nbsp;is the group\u2019s first full-length album and gives a very introspective and sentimental feel through its hard-hitting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":551,"featured_media":49,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/owenkroppsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/owenkroppsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/owenkroppsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/owenkroppsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/551"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/owenkroppsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/owenkroppsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/owenkroppsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/owenkroppsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/owenkroppsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/project.journalism.torontomu.ca\/owenkroppsblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}