On
Here's Luck,
the Honeydogs desperately fight to keep meaningful and melodic guitar rock alive, fusing British Invasion-inspired pop with country-flavored roots rock. Alternating between rave-ups like "Sour Grapes" and "Losing Transmissions" and lush ballads such as "Wilson Boulevard" and "Pins in Dolls," the Minneapolis-based group puts together its most cohesive, satisfying release yet. "Red Dye #40" sports a maddening melody, thanks to the inclusion of an electric sitar and a Wurlitzer in the mix. Lyrically, "Freakshow" conjures up disturbing images that contrast with its soothing musical tone. The Honeydogs alone may not win the war against boy bands, rap, and testosterone-fueled rock, but they certainly make the fight more interesting. ~ Michael Frey