Track Listing

1. Poison
2. After the Hurricane
3. Lower Broad St. Blues
4. Leave It Alone
5. Bottom of Priority
6. Devil & Me - BR5-49, , The Jordanaires
7. I'm Going Down
8. You Are the Queen
9. Cajun Percussion
10. A-1 on the Jukebox
11. Let Jesus Make You Breakfast

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #124377 in Music
• Released on: 2006-01-10
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
Comfortably into their second phase, Dog Days continues the revitalization begun in 2003 with BR549's Tangled in the Pines. Prior to that album co-founder/vocalist Gary Bennett and longtime bassist Jay McDowell departed. Chuck Mead's confident writing (he wrote or cowrote nine of the set's eleven tunes) embraces honkytonk, country weepers, roadhouse rave-ups and gospel--the latter inclination is given glorious wings by guest singers the Jordanaires on "The Devil in Me." Throughout, their sharp mix of acoustic and electric instruments makes for a rich and warm sound. One of the band's strengths is their ability to flow through contrasting styles, making it all sound like their own, resulting in a bracing full-album experience. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews

Yet another stellar album from one of country's best
BR549 is one of those bands that appeals not only to traditional country fans, but also to people who claim to "hate" country music (despite the prominent fiddle and steel you find on BR549 records). Why is this? Simple--their music is honest and, in its own subtle way, brilliant. Not to say DOG DAYS is a masterpiece; it has its flaws, though right off the top of my head I can't think of any. It's a perfect, albeit calmer, follow-up to TANGLED IN THE PINES, their previous (and, let's face it, best) effort.

DOG DAYS ranges wildly in style and content, from the bluesy "Lower Broad St. Blues," to the rocker "Leave It Alone," to the clever gospel of "Let Jesus Make You Breakfast," to the stark depression of "I'm Goin' Down," to the witty social commentary in "Bottom Of Priority." Lead vocalist/guitarist Chuck Mead gets self-deprecating on "The Devil & Me" (with the Jordanaires adding their own confirmation via superb harmony vocals), and later slaps Nashville in the face by declaring: "I'm A-1 on the jukebox, but nowhere on the charts."

Along with drummer Shaw Wilson, fiddle/steel/keyboardist Don Herron, and newly-recruited bassist Mark Miller (who shows on "You Are the Queen" that he is capable of sharing lead vocals with Mead), BR549 is one of the best fringe-country bands out there. They've gone through several personnel changes, and some career highs and lows; they've never had a hit, and probably never will. But that doesn't mean they aren't worth checking out. DOG DAYS is a great album to start your BR549 collection, if you aren't already a fan; if you are a fan, then you really have no need to be reading this review; you know darn well you're getting a great traditional country record, full of wit and wisdom and everything that makes country music what it is...and what it should be.

The whole package, fun, entertaining, brilliant
These BR549 guys have been around quite awhile now, but they have figured out how to put together a collection of music that will get you up and moving and just entertain the heck out of you. This has a big sound, with awesome musicians giving you the best of what they got, and they succeed 100%. I listened to this on the internet, bought it half way through listening to the cd, and was not disappointed I had while I finished listening. Excellent is the understatement of the New Year. I can't wipe the smile off of my face. I would give it 12 stars if Amazon would let me!!

I Love BR549
I love this band. I really mean it. I LOVE this band. And Chuck really should just retire the name. This is not BR549. It's not bad. In fact, this album is great. But it's a Chuck Mead solo record, not a BR549. I hate geeks who split hairs but I'm still doing it. I would buy this if it had Chuck Mead's name on it. With Scruggs gone (the final gasp) there's no other name recognition and no one else to really share the credit with. Just get it over with. This is in no way, shape, or sound the band I fell in love with. Please. Can BR5-49 finally just call it quits?