Listening to that dog. feels like being inside a very articulate, slightly neurotic diary entry from 1995. The music is built on a foundation of classic power pop crunch, but it is elevated by a sophisticated musicality that betrays the members' deep jazz and industry roots. It is bright and punchy on the surface, yet there is a persistent undercurrent of melancholy and social awkwardness that makes it feel deeply personal.
What truly sets them apart is the vocal architecture. The Haden sisters and Anna Waronker weave intricate, three-part harmonies that feel more like chamber music than garage rock. This elegance is constantly being disrupted by Petra Haden's violin, which often swaps classical grace for feedback-heavy, distorted leads that mimic a second lead guitar. It is a sound that is simultaneously disciplined and messy.
Start with 'Totally Crushed Out!' to experience their peak conceptual era. It captures the hyper-specific drama of unrequited love with wit and melodic precision. If you prefer something more polished and hook-heavy, 'Retreat from the Sun' offers a masterclass in 90s alternative songwriting that should have been massive on the radio.
That Dog (stylized as that dog.) is a Los Angeles-based rock band that formed in 1992 and disbanded in 1997, reuniting in 2011. The band originally consisted of Anna Waronker on lead vocals and guitar, Rachel Haden on bass guitar and vocals, her sister Petra Haden on violin and vocals, and Tony Maxwell on drums. The band's original work drew critical comparisons with the output of Redd Kross, Wednesday Week, Dolly Mixture and Buzzcocks.
Shares power pop, indie rock, alternative rock (subgenres); analog warmth, layered dense, studio polished (production style)
Shares power pop, alternative rock, indie rock (subgenres); harmonized, gentle, breathy (vocal style)
Shares power pop, alternative rock, indie rock (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares power pop, alternative rock, indie rock (subgenres); bittersweet, playful, wistful (moods)
Shares power pop, indie rock, alternative rock (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, layered dense (production style)
Shares power pop, indie rock, alternative rock (subgenres); analog warmth, layered dense, studio polished (production style)
Shares power pop, indie rock, alternative rock (subgenres); analog warmth, layered dense, studio polished (production style)
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