Optimist Rock: Dogs On Main Street’s Latest Album, “Cadillac Motel”

MICD.O.D.Music

Jun 13

It’s pretty rock n’ roll.

Both glamorous and personal, it’s honest and optimistic. I’m saying that without even considering the lyrics, but “The Grooves In Your Floor” message backs my thesis.

Suburbanite-like, and I mean that in a wonderful way.

Not soft. Settled.

It’s a traveled tune that’s seen plenty of Main Streets but Mac Rowe’s Dogs On Main Street chose this street to settle down and build a home. Parties are thrown and flights are still booked, but this is the hill to hang on. And if it were to die, it would here—horizon both in sight and step.

Does this lofty metaphor track? It makes perfect sense in my head.

Who would’ve thought optimist rock would taste so good?

Here’s the trailer to the album, Cadillac Motel.

The album is truly stellar. Despite the sound’s comfortable roots, the story is that of a voyage.

On each side of that metaphorical hill are triumphs and failures. Grand feasts and ramen noodles. It’s one long journey that starts in the rain in Memphis, NY before leaving Anarene to live on the edge. On long train rides it’s easy for the mind to wander back to earlier times and the intricate details of the people and places we love. The small stuff, like the taste of those awful rootbeer barrell candies grandma used to keep handy and the grooves of her floor you loved to roll around on. While you’re drifting the train keeps rolling, on and up to Iowa, then further down the line, til it reaches the Cadillac Motel in a drive-through town. A stop in the road that’s reminiscent of home.

There’s more road to be traveled.

At least that’s what I’m gathering by reading way too directly into the tracklist.

There’s more than one song on here that could replace the pixie dust at the end of “Friday Night Lights” and still do the scene justice. I’ll let you guess which two though.

Check out Mac Rowe’s Dogs on Main Street on all streaming services and follow him on Instagram for announcements.

“The Grooves In Your Floor,” the album’s single, offers a lifting peace.

“Down the Line” reminds me of a walk-in scene of a quality 80s film with an important prom scene, but it could also support so many other cinematic moments—any traveling montage, an epic first kiss, the end of pretty much any movie that ends in achievement, which is a buttload of movies.

“Memphis, NY” is similar in stature to '“Down the Line” and they’re probably my two favorites on the album. I really like the payoff in both.