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    Decapolis 2001/Dogwood
    Dogwood — Building a Better Me cover

    Dogwood

    Building a Better Me

    (2000)

    Reviewed by Tom Bastian

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    Label Tooth & Nail RecordsDecapolis2001
    melodic hardcorepop punkpunkskate punk

    Dogwood 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 get used to. I wouldn't say the band is doing anything terribly different than the other bands in this melodic punk rock genre. But if you're a fan of this stuff then definitely give this latest Dogwood album a listen. The production is great, the vocals are strong, the songwriting is pretty good and overall "Building a Better Me" makes for a good listen. The one thing that Dogwood has always been good at, and it holds true on this release. Is their ability to write spiritually relevant songs without sounding like a 1st grade Sunday School lesson. These guys put thought and passion behind their lyrics.

    C+

    Other coverage for this album

    Decapolis 2001Reviewed by Nate BaileyDogwood'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…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…

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