Recommendation: Dog Fashion Disco's Early Albums

Dog Fashion Disco's first album, Erotic Massage, (NOT the re-recording) is very good. I say not the re-recording because, while it does have enhanced sound quality, I think it sounds distinctly more straight metal or nu-metal rather than progressive. Which isn't bad, necessarily; I like the remasters and their later albums. For example, I think Adultery is an amazing film-noir/metal/jazz concept album with a not-too-bad country song thrown in for good measure. However, between 1997 and 2017 (the date of the Erotic Massage re-recording) the feel of the band changed a lot.

I will also note that the quality of the songs on the original CDs are much better than the quality I see on youtube, so the re-recording does not sound that much better. (It's unfortunate that the original CDs are so rare now and that the best way to support the band is to buy the re-recordings.) I have noticed that the bass lines can sound very proggy and interesting on the earlier albums with Stephen Mears on bass, something which either is lost in the mix later or is a difference in the new bassist's style. The saxophonists who play on the original recordings also wrote some very nice sections. I think overall the first two albums are willing to tread into much softer and more tender musical landscapes than their re-recordings or DFD's later work.

Listen to the original version of Communion



Bonus: Experiments in Alchemy (the original 1998 recordings) is also very good. The Satanic Cowboy and En la Noche both channel Mr. Bungle very well while retaining their own style. The second sounds like The Doors or something with Mike Patton on vocals. Pogo the Clown is a disturbing but well written, I don't know what style it is, but it sounds like a.... speakeasy or something to me. Siddhis, Primate, Albino Rhino, and 9-5 at the Morgue are very nice sounding prog metal pieces.


So if you ever see the original 1997 and 1998 recordings of these two albums floating around, I definitely recommend you pick them up. Or if you buy the re-recordings, do yourself a favor and acquire the originals, too.


Edited by Kaivoks - October 17 2019 at 14:00

Thanks for the comment, Richard! I’m not sure I understand the idea that a BAND can be prog. It seems more that an ALBUM or SONG can be prog. Did you listen to the songs I posted? I think they are more than borderline, which is why I recommended the first two albums (original recordings) and not the later albums (or re-recordings).

It seems a bit misguided to deem a band prog or not and then label ALL of their albums as prog or not regardless of the qualities the individual songs and albums embody. A band can release a couple prog albums and then switch to more standard material; there’s no logical contradiction in that.

Sure, I see your point, and I’m not going to try to change the site even though I think the “whole discography” approach means we’ll miss out on some good stuff. In any case, I was just recommending these early recordings to users, not recommending DFD for inclusion on PA (though I do think they belong on the main site).

Ah, I see. I didn't realize how strict that rule was. Well, I think it's rather lame that one can't recommend prog songs in the prog lounge just because the band as a whole isn't prog enough. It kind of stifles discussion if only what songs are implicitly deemed prog by the overlords is acceptable (can I recommend some of Styx pop songs because they're on here?). It's not like I'm in here recommending the next Taylor Swift album or something...

If a mod wants to move it to abide by the forum rules, I understand; it probably won't generate any interesting discussion anyway if the primary conversation is just going to be about whether or not we should even be talking about it in the first place!