HardCore, Progressive, Jazzy,
and Funky, Experimental Punk

7 MP3 Songs
METAL: Metalcore, ROCK: Punk



Details:
Cambridge University Radio (England)
Xpensive Dogs

Xpensive Dogs are a Japanese/US internet collaboration between Toshi Hiraoka, Gary Tanin and Greg Koch. Together they cook up a steaming gumbo of sound with the most exotic side-salad you ever heard. On none of the seven tracks here can I think of an immediate comparison, which is always nice. But I don't want to praise this band for being different as despite what many will tell you, different does not equate to innovative, nor to good. I mean, there's plenty of other willfully obtuse bands around, but how many of them sound un-contrived and natural? The Dogs combine breakneck poly-rhythms, quirky guitar lines that spiral off all over the shop, wild squeaky synths, chunks of sound, gurgles, gloops, bleeps and blurps galore. Xpensive Dogs are both innovative and excellent.

In fact, this is unbelievably cohesive for a record of this type put together by (e)mail. Makes you wonder what might've happened had all the musicians involved been in the same place at the same time (and why Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder only managed a horribly naive and sickly ballad when given much the same freedom). It's a shame that there are only seven tracks, pick of the bunch for me is Money for Love, the most balls-out of them.
Jimmy Possession
Head of Music, Cambridge University Radio


STATIC ZINE (U.S.A.)
Xpensive Dogs A+

Great vocals & instrumentation. Lyrically & musically a breath of fresh air. I can compare them to no one, with the exception of a hint of Zappa here & there. Unique & intelligent with some great hooks. I hope to hear more from this band, 7 fantastic tracks, with never a dull second. Loved it! A+


Sound & Recording (Japan)
XPensive Dogs

XPensive Dogs is the CD of a rock band consisting of two Americans and one Japanese artist. The songs on XPensive Dogs are very well-composed. As an independent release, and a cross-continental collaboration , this is a surprisingly well made CD. "We modified song ideas via the Internet, then sent Alesis ADAT tapes with tracks recorded at each studio (in Japan and the U.S.) by mail. We've tried to make the songs natural and simple. We paid special attention to detail and nuance in the combination of Guitars, Bass, Vocals and Vocal harmonies on this CD".


Big O (Singapore)
XPENSIVE DOGS

Tracks: Freedom, Dream, Money For Love and 4 more
Too old to be neo-punks, too accomplished to be old-time punks,
XPensive Dogs carve out a niche that is slightly right of Frank Zappa.
However, the Dogs do put up a feisty display that sets fire to their fret boards.
-ST


RADIO MARABU GMBH (Eurowide) Review

XPENSIVE DOGS - "One Too Many" ; Split CD with WAT TYLER... introducing world's first INTERNET SUPERGROUP - TOSHI HIRAOKA (cooperated with NONONO, INSTIGATORS, ALVARO) GARY TANIN (cooperated with musicians from TALKING HEADS, VIOLENT FEMMES, DIXIE DREGS, FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS) GREG KOCH (official FENDER USA guitarist, worked with DIXIE DREGS won WAMI AWARDS) music is produced in JAPAN and USA via the INTERNET, more forthcoming, mixture combines drivin' funky HC influenced basis, super cool vocals 'n speedin' guitars - excellent, can't wait to hear more!

Lord Litter
RADIO MARAB
Germany, GMBH


MARGEN (Italy)

Do you remember Toshi Hiraoka? He's the Guitarist and composer of HardCore and Ambient music from Japan, and has songs on a tape split with "Kronstadt" on a German label. He is very capable of good thematic works.
Toshi (his short name) runs a label called "HARD DISC" for
releasing his own music, whoâs past releases include a single and CD with Costes (Paris). He forms a new band XPensive Dogs with Gary Tanin(vo) and
Greg Koch(G). His CD is contemporary, and is split with the interesting
rock band Wat Tyler from England.
The expression of XPensive Dogs is HardCore, Progressive, Jazzy,
and Funky........ The Dogs tracks are beautifully mixed.


MUSIC MAGAZINE (Japan)

It's the split CD (XPD9605A) of XPensive Dogs consisting of Japanese/U.S. artists like Gary Tanin, etc. and British Wat Tyler,
including 22 songs.
XPensive Dogs is experimental Punk Rock. Wat Tyler is based on
Pop Punk but having tradition and British humor.


RADIO GAMMA (Italy)

XPensive Dogs is on the "Alternative Playlist" of RADIO GAMMA in Italy. The Program Director said "I really liked it and my audience
enjoyed it too". Radio Gamma is also available on the Internet.


KKUP (Cupertino, CA USA)

âThanks for the split CD. It's great! Both bands sound wonderful with their own style. The collaboration sounds amazingly cohesive and Wat Tyler is lively, hard charging and fun." We play Freedom (XPDogs) and Too Young, Too Bitter (Wat).


TERRY BURKE "Set Cassettes" and radio show (Cincinnatti, OH USA)

"Thanks for the CD, I'll be playing 2 tracks on my show tonight."