An Introduction to SOUTHDOGROCK
SOUTHDOGROCK is a music project and the brainchild of vocalist, lyricist, saxophonist and keyboardist Florian Döppert and his partner, producer Frank Schultz. This project is based in Southern Germany, close to the French and Swiss border and offers a very eclectic music style; recently, SOUTHDOGROCK won seven awards at the 2021 39. German Rock & Pop Awards including Best Traditional Blues Album for Old and Tired Dog. Today we are excited to share our thoughts on a collection of SOUTHDOGROCK’s English-language songs!
The first track we listened to from SOUTHDOGROCK was “Old and Tired Dog” which is an absolute blast of a song. This song blends so many different genres in such a fun away; there are elements of groovy jazz and 90’s Pop-Rock with other influences sprinkled throughout and it makes this song extremely easy to enjoy. For me, though, the best part is the storytelling lyrics that really give the song a good meaning, rounding out everything perfectly. Listen below:
Next we listened to “Same Girl With Emerald Eyes” which slows things down a bit. I would definitely describe this song as a superbly executed mission statement that showcases the best of what SOUTHDOGROCK has to offer. Indeed, through “Some Girl With Emerald Eyes”, we really get a very strong feel for the strong storytelling approach that Döppert takes with the music in SOUTHDOGROCK. Check it out below:
We checked out “The Street” next and it is yet another excellent track. Throughout the song, we are treated to a top to bottom lesson in melody; both the vocal performance and the instrumental are richly textured which gives this song a certain element for true music lovers to enjoy. The way in which the guitar plays along with the percussion gives this song a certain bounce to it that makes it a great deal of fun to listen to. Listen below:
The final song we listened to was “Ride with Me” which really closes out this collection on a high note. Through this song, we are treated to a blend of 70’s Rock and 90’s Pop-Rock that really gives this track a unique sonic footprint. My favorite songs from SOUTHDOGROCK are the ones that feature higher energy and this one is no exception; perhaps the star of the show is the saxophone performance on this track, though it is brief; Florian Döppert truly shines on this track and it is truly outstanding. You can listen below:
What I think I love most about this selection of songs is how wonderfully it showcases the eclectic sound featured within the music SOUTHDOGROCK creates; there are so many influences and so many sonic delights to find within this music that it really is something special. It is no surprise that this group has earned awards for their music! You can keep up with SOUTHDOGROCK through their Instagram and website. If you didn’t click along while reading the article, check out SOUTHDOGROCK’s top tracks embedded below via Spotify!
