Comitting Adultery at a Dog Fashioned Disco

Has anyone ever asked you what the weirdest band name you've ever heard was? For a long time I thought Dog Fashion Disco was the most unlikely name of all. Although Oingo Boingo comes in at a close second.

Dog Fashion Disco has been far more versatile over the years than any band I've known (and trust me, I've listened to hundreds!). To describe their sound would take years, because it literally has spanned several iterations. It's hard to acurately describe their music because it takes elements from many genres, but at the end of the day many call it "alternative metal." More particularly, the album we'll be walking through today was termed "movie metal" by Dog Fashion Disco it's self.

Adultery, their last album they put out was their penultimate release; they decided that it was time to part ways with some members so people can do other things with their lives. But don't worry, Polkadot Cadaver was born from the ashes of Dog Fashion Disco and includes some of the original cast.

However, if I can make you a believer in this band there would be only one selection I'd have to make...and then again, that would be Adultery. Before I get into the album in question, check out their cover of Grease!

Adultery is the mother of all concept albums, both lyrically and stylistically. There is not a genre missed (maybe rap, but hey, there's plenty of that going around already) on this album, and it rivals Tub Ring's latest release even after three years. From 80s synth, to rockin' surf, to pure metal, then to jazz (complete with horns!) and back again.

I have found vids for most of the tracks, so sit back and relax and walk through this movie in audio form with me.

Throughout its thirteen tracks you are told a story. It begins with "Chapter One," The Uninvited Guest. This is a haunting piano dirge that asks and answers.

"Who got into your soul?
Who's that voice in your head?
Who put that look in your eyes?
The uninvited guest."

And then, without a skipped beat, drums boom in as it launches into Chapter Two, "The Sacrifice of Miss Rose Covington." The lyrics are dark, twisted, and seem to tell a tale of our main character witnessing the incineration of Miss Rose, presumably by accident. But a gateway has been open, and our main character is about to get really evil. The song it's self has about two or three tempo changes and nearly all of the singer's vocal ability is used.

Chapter Three, "Silent Film" then begins with horns and a driving beat. This is where I believe the story really begins to pick up, because after witnessing the death of Miss Rose the main character is now no stranger to killing. In fact, he's found a new hobby.

One may wonder how someone can do these things...kill for the sake of pleasure. And it's a hard business, the people who have become serial killers are generally all a bit whacko. And thus, Chapter Four, "Sweet Insanity," shows the character splitting and forming a whole new personality.

"I'm out of my body and swimming through you, a nightmarish dream like a maze."

You see, this newly born killer is no longer in control of his desires. He's watching himself from a far as his dirty deeds are done.

Chapter Five, "Desert Grave" is basically an old school Country and Western song, wherein the main character is speaking to his fallen victim and making a grave to hide the evidence.

Nearly every time I play this, people want to swear to me it's a Johnny Cash song.

"Burying the sins of man in an eternal grave of sand, vultures circle in the sky and you my dear are the reason why."

Moonlight City Drive is the next chapter, and it's merely our main character taking a cruise through the streets. Perhaps in Las Vegas, who knows.

He picks up a lady of the night and they go to a motel for a quick bang. But it's the kind of bang the prostitute wasn't really into.

"What's a little sin under the covers, cold stiff body to be discovered?!"

The next piece is purely..well, just a way to glue the story together. Someone is on to our crazy pal and that someone is a Private Eye. It sounds like a cheesy porno, and this is because after the PI says his spiel we go back to the motel, seconds before the pro is murdered.

"Another case, another bottle of booze...life is no longer a mystery to me."

Chapter eight is The Darkest Days, and it's probably one of my favorite songs on the album. It spans again a whole list of vocalizations and vibrations.

"And it comes as no surprise, all hope will someday die. Lost in a slow kiss goodbye, as we sink like stones in the river!"

Below is yet again someone playing Guitar Hero--and you'll see just how complex their music truly is.

Chapter Nine, "Dead Virgins Don't Sing" is one of their more odd pieces. The sound scape is difficult to explain, but there's a reason I think as to why this is. You see, we're now listening to the thoughts of our killer. He is wrestling with his demons, and one true personality is about to show it's self for the worst.

"This is indeed a threat, I will not tolerate anything but your complete and utter devotion to me."

The next chapter, "The Hitchhiker" it's self is bluesy, jazzy, with an undercurrent of metal. By now the main character is widely known to the public, they just don't know yet who it is.

"Midnite stranger, come take a walk with me and all my misery."

In "100 Suicides" the main character seems to be trying to control himself again. He wants to kill his demons, to stop his deadly disgusting impulses.

"All night and everyday, in a galaxy far far away! Reborn, unable to die, I've committed one hundred suicides!"

It's my next favorite track, especially the jazz break that sounds like something out of the fifties.

Adultery is the last track to really be a song on the album. This is where our main character finally realizes the horrible things he has done and he's calling the police to turn himself in. It's a really interesting track, sounds rather disco-like. It's one of their most catchier tunes.

"Dial tone ringing in, connect and on. I'm on the hotline and talking now, so shut your mouth."

The last track, "For Mature Audiences Only" is a montage of sound. It doesn't quite have lyrics, but if you listen closely what you're hearing is the confession of the killer. It wraps up the story, and begs to be listened to a few times.

This album has been one of my absolute favorites of all time. And I hope you've heard and read why.