Melee (Dogleg album)

Melee is the debut studio album by American post-hardcore band, Dogleg. The album was released on March 13, 2020 through Triple Crown Records.

Melee
Studio album by Dogleg
Released	March 13, 2020 (2020-03-13)
Studio	Alex Stoitsiadis's House Rochester, Michigan
Genre	Emo melodic hardcore post-hardcore hardcore punk
Length	35:40
Label	Triple Crown
Producer	Alex Stoitsiadis
Dogleg chronology
Remember Alderaan? (2016) Melee (2020)
Singles from Melee
"Fox" Released: November 11, 2019[1] "Kawasaki Backflip" Released: February 7, 2020[2]

Two singles were released prior to the album's release: "Fox" in late 2019, and "Kawasaki Backflip" in early 2020. The album was met with critical acclaim, with critics praising the album's ambitious sound, energy, and cultural relevance.

A tour was planned to accompany the album, but is currently delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.[3]

Background

Following the release of their last extended play, Remember Alderaan?, Dogleg began extensively touring across their home state of Michigan and across the American Midwest in promotion of their first two EPs. The success and local popularity of the band caught the attention of South by Southwest, who recruited the band to perform at 2018 SXSW. Subsequently, the band signed in 2019, with Triple Crown Records, and began working on a full-length studio album in the summer and fall of 2019.[4] Recording was undertaken at lead singer, Alex Stoitsiadis's, home in Rochester, Michigan.

The album was formally announced on February 7, 2020 with their second single, "Kawasaki Backflip".[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Album of the Year	80/100[6]
Metacritic	84/100[7]
Review scores
Source	Rating
Exclaim!	8/10[8]
New Noise	[9]
Paste	7.5/10[10]
Pitchfork	8.6/10[11]
Punknews.org	[12]
Sputnikmusic	3.7/5[13]

Melee was critically acclaimed by contemporary music critics upon release. On review aggregator website, Album of the Year, Melee has an average score of 80 out of 100 based on three critics.[6]

Konstantina Buhalis, writing for New Noise magazine gave the album a perfect score of five stars out of five. Buhalis felt that "Dogleg’s impressive ability to craft gut-wrenching punk is only one of their talents, as this record proves. Beyond their poignant lyricism is their technical expertise, taking traditional, Midwest emo and elevating it."[9]

Ian Cohen, writing for Pitchfork praised the album, giving it the "Best New Music" designation. Cohen said that "the thrilling debut from the Detroit rock band burns hot and bright. It’s a record that’s as melodic as it is physical, where pent-up aggression turns into physical liberation."[11] Cohen stated that "Melee effectively advocates for a binary of taste: There is rock music that slaps and rock music that does not, the latter of which should not be given any attention."[11]

Accolades

Accolades for Melee

Publication	Accolade	Rank	Ref.
Spin	Spin's 30 Best Albums of 2020 – Mid-Year	N/A	[14]

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Alex Stoitsiadis; all music is composed by Alex Stoitsiadis, Chase Macinski, and Parker Grissom.

Melee track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Kawasaki Backflip"	2:24
2.	"Bueno"	2:56
3.	"Prom Hell"	4:21
4.	"Fox"	2:50
5.	"Headfirst"	3:44
6.	"Hotlines"	3:21
7.	"Wartortle"	2:57
8.	"Wrist"	3:06
9.	"Cannonball"	3:40
10.	"Ender"	6:21
Total length:		35:40

References

1. Cohen, Ian (November 11, 2019). ""Fox" by Dogleg Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
2. Manno, Lizzie (February 7, 2020). "Daily Dose: Dogleg, "Kawasaki Backflip"". Paste. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
3. "Today, we receive 100% of the revenue made on @Bandcamp. With all our touring for the next few months out of the picture, we'd really appreciate your support! Pick up Melee at the link in bio 📸 by @dustin_bojo". Instagram. March 20, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
4. "Interview: On 'Melee,' Dogleg Has Captured Lightning in a Bottle". Get Alternative. February 18, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
5. Sacher, Andrew (February 7, 2020). "Dogleg detail debut album 'Melee,' share new song & video, "Kawasaki Backflip"". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
6. "Dogleg - Melee - Reviews". Album of the Year. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
7. "Metacritic Review". Metacritic. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
8. Feibel, Adam (March 11, 2020). "Dogleg Melee". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
9. Buhalis, Konstantina (March 16, 2020). "Album Review: Dogleg - "Melee"". New Noise. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
10. Salmon, Ben (March 12, 2020). "Dogleg 'Melee' Review: Dogleg Ably Walk the Line Between Melody and Brawn on Melee". Paste. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
11. Cohen, Ian (March 16, 2020). "Dogleg: Melee Album Review". Pitchfork. Conde Naste. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
12. Elfers, Mike (March 18, 2020). "Dogleg - Melee". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
13. "Dogleg: Melee (Album Review)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
14. "The 30 Best Albums of 2020". Spin. May 21, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.

External links

• Melee at Discogs
• Melee at Triple Crown Records