Cleveland Magazine
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The Cleveland Scene- Dandy Outlaws Review by Dan Weiss
This crisply produced Cleveland power-pop duo owes more to Cobra Starship than to any other band that's scored a hit on Top 40 radio the past couple of years. A chick and a dude with dual vocals that both harmonize and fight ... they pack enough personality intoDandy Outlaws' five brief songs to warrant their "influenced by grunge, hair metal, punk rock, and musical theatre" claim. Anthems like "Tricks" and "You Want Me Crazy" are essentially high-compressed power pop, and the twisty "Shoot From the Hip" would sound really good next to Cobra Starship on the radio.
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Cleveland.com - When the Moon Was Big review by Michael Norman
They put their own girl-guy vocal stamp on a catchy blend of pile-driving, modern guitar rock ... But Attack Cat is its own animal, adding a gritty, indie-rock vibe to its potent power-pop mix. There's a special chemistry between Dave Douglas and Red [Rachel Hoskins], particularly in way they trade lead vocals in songs like ‘I Have a Plan’ and ‘You Never Knew.”
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The Vinyl District- Dandy Outlaws review by Amber Patrick
If you’re like me, you’ve been waiting months for today. Tonight is the album release party for Cleveland band Attack Cat at Musica in Akron. If you’re into powerful pop rock duos, add these cats to your list.
If there’s a sudden rise in the number of dance parties incited across the country, it’s a safe bet the kids have caught on to the vibe Attack Cat creates. Attack Cat boasts traded vocals between Rachel Hoskins and Dave Douglas, former drummer of Relient K. (I know, I was surprised a drummer could sing like that, too!)
What’s particularly rad about Attack Cat is the chemistry they exude. Douglas and Hoskins mesh really well, as apparent in their harmonies. You can’t help but love this band for its danceable beats and memorable lyrics, amongst many other redeeming qualities.
Their new EP Dandy Outlaws is out today, and we have an exclusive review!
Dandy Outlaws comprises five power-pop songs that best display that for which Attack Cat is known: driving beats, gritty guitars, complimentary keys, and male-female vocals that duel for the spotlight when they’re not blending in perfect harmonies.
Opening the EP is the first released single, “You Want Me Crazy.”This song perhaps best exemplifies that vocal power struggle evident in Attack Cat’s music. Mixed by international mix master Tom Lord Alge, this track is bound to get stuck in your head. You’ll find yourself singing it everywhere—around your place, the grocery store, the shower… Its infectious pop sound will pull you in, and you’ll be hooked.
The second track “Remarkable” is a delicate ballad, showcasing the duo’s prowess at harmonizing. This song perfectly displays the subtle strength of Hoskin’s voice, while Douglas shows his vulnerability, extending from a midpoint in his range to a solid falsetto. It’s a more acoustic sound than everything else I’ve heard from Attack Cat. Just beautiful.
Perhaps my favorite track on the record is “Tricks.” I get this chorus stuck in my head, find myself dancing around my apartment, and before I know it, I’m hitting repeat. This track is addictive!
Remember that friend you fell for, and how you wanted to tell them just how you felt, but you couldn’t find a way to do it? Cue the fourth track, “RCA.” Here’s a song that embraces that palpable tension between two people who’re vibin’ to more than just Duran Duran and the Jackson 5. Its tongue and cheek admission of interest in more than just listening to albums together. It’s a perfect track for Attack Cat, displaying obvious tension between Douglas and Hoskin’s vocals.
The EP closes with “Shoot from the Hip,” a dance-y tune that is clearing inspired by Douglas and Hoskin’s alter-egos, “the Dandy Outlaws.” This track could very well inspire a Bonnie and Clyde adventure of your own!
My suggestion? Pack your bags, grab your copy of Dandy Outlaws, grab the one you love, and strike out on your own adventure. Oh, and don’t forget to dance! (As if you could resist these beats.)
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The Rock Office Radio - Dandy Outlaws review
Attack Cat is a duo consisting of Dave Douglas and Rachel Hoskins. Their EP they released is called ‘Dandy Outlaws.’
On this effort, it’s five songs consisting of a very danceable pop with crunchy guitar mix. Imagine what Maroon Five and Christina Aguilera did with their ‘Move Like Jagger’ song—That’s kind of the feel of this album. Great production. The sound is really clean. I’m really impressed with the musicianship on it. They write catchy hooks.
Of the five songs on this EP, the song ‘Remarkable’ is the one that stands out to me the most. It is a perfectly polished pop gem waiting to be released to radio. The video for Remarkable was filmed in and around Cleveland and was recently premiered with rave reviews at the Cleveland International Film Festival.
Other songs on the album that stand out are ‘Shoot From the Hip’ and a song called ‘Tricks’ which has a Keisha kind of a feel to it.
I’m very interested in seeing what these guys come up with in the future. I know they’re in the studio working on more material. So keep an eye out for these guys.
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