Dogwood's latest album, "Building a Better Me," has been released right on the heels of their last album, "More than Conquers." Dogwood continues to produce inspirational lyrics and team them up with music that makes you want to pump up the volume. "Building a Better Me," was produced by the Descendent's Steve Egerton (as most punk-based Tooth and Nail releases have been lately), so there's definitely some influences in the songs that must have rubbed off in the studio. There are also some similar sounds to Shades Apart, but all in all, their music is more than able to stand by itself and not rely on a specific genre. My favorite songs are "Autobiographies," "Someone See," and "Truth About It Is." The artwork is awesome, designed to look like an old novel with the pages yellowed and old charcoal illustrations (great drawings by the way) in the margins. The more I listen to this CD, the more I like it. It's their best release on Tooth and Nail yet, (they are already working on the next one...you'd think they were the Huntingtons with how much time they spend in the studio) and I would recommend this one without hesitation.
B+
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis 2001Reviewed by Tom BastianDogwood brings us their best album to date. The band has seemed to mature a great bit over the past few years. Leaving behind the albums filled of hyper-beat punk rock drumming and 3 power-chord fill tunes and brings forth an album full of energy, passion and strength. The vocals sound similar to their other albums, yet a bit stronger, although still a sound that may take little while for you to…Art for the Ears 2000Reviewed by Marco PovervestPut this CD in your player. Rotate the song Comes Crashing and increase the volume. If you're not convinced by what you're hearing, then this album is not your thing. Wow, I love that song! Dogwood is a melodic punk band from San Diego and Building A Better Me is their fourth album, if I'm correct. It's all high energy and melodic. Quite catchy sounds. The vocals have that sandpaper-throat…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Michial FarmerI've actually been looking forward to this record for quite some time now, because Dogwood is a punk band on Tooth & Nail Records that isn't a carbon copy of MxPx (I've named names enough in the past to not have to do so this time). Building a Better Me surpassed my expectations, though--it's a good album based not only on what it isn't, but also what it is: straight-up, well-put-together early…Similar sounding releases
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