Black Dogs

Led Zeppelin had some $200,00.00 stolen from a safety deposit box in 1973. The culprit was never found and the mystery faded from the spot light. It’s a weird tale in history, one that a lot of people might not be aware even happened. You do not have to be a rock and roll enthuasist or know the history of Led Zeppelin to enjoy Jason Buhrmester’s Black Dogs. Buhrmester’s excitement and passion shines through in the writing. He sets up the entire story, even for the most uninformed reader. Black Dogs is a charming theory on what happened the night the money went missing

Buhrmester crafts an elaborate, but almost convincing story of Patrick, Alex, Keith, and Frenchy, four burn-outs from Baltimore, who set out to rob Zeppelin, but get tangled with a hard ass, Christian biker gang instead. It sounds absurd. And it is, but Buhrmester does well to develop each character, both physically and mentally , in a short amount of time. Before any of them speak their first words, Buhrmester has handed you a sharp and tight portfolio on each one. This is what accounts for much of the believeability of the tale. The way Buhrmester handles characters in the book is true for the story telling as well. Though the book is short at 241 pages, Buhrmester does not waste a line, making sure the reader sees what he sees.

More than a commentary on youth, Black Dogs is a story about friendship. Alex is recently released from prison for a botched robbery he attempted with Patrick. Patrick got away and wants to make it up to him and robbing Led Zeppelin is the answer. The two rebuild their bond over trying to be criminal master minds, which they are not. Alex wants to believe in his friend and Patrick wants his friend back, and somehow, you end up wanting these undeserving punks to get away with the cash. Buhrmester, we aren’t suppose to cheer for guys like these.

Black Dogs is a not profound tale, but it is humorous. Four dirty, teenage halfwits just drinking, listening to music, and petty theft-ing their way through life don’t make for the greatest heroes in a story. Though, they are friends and do stupid boy stuff, like empty a beer into a bossy girl’s purse after taking her cash, that makes you shake your head and laugh. Knowing the characters and their plan keeps the pages of Black Dogs turn quicker than most. It’s a constant wonder how these kids are going to pull of inevitable grab. In this way, Black Dogs is about reading as they stumble through their heist. They get the money in the end, but the story is about the twists along the way and charming, youthful moments.

Ghosts of the Great Highway

You’ll listen the first track Sun Kil Moon’s Ghosts of the Great Highway. When the second track begins, you’ll check to make sure the first isn’t on repeat. Sadly, this will continue for the duration of the album as you wait for a little variety. It won’t come.

The excitement missing from the whole is also absent from the individual tracks themselves. Each one fits the same, boring formula: a softly strummed melody and a drum line loop steadily, another guitar drones and Mark Kozeiek’s voice accompanies in a flat, nasally whine best described as Neil Young with a sinus infection.

The ghosts being paid tribute are boxers, guitarists, and lost loves. The subjects are exploited to bring about feelings of warmth and empathy that Kozeiek could not bring about musically or lyrically. The opening track, “Glenn Tipton” gives a nod to all three subjects. It is a story about things changing and being more the same. The eternal dispute about the best boxers and guitarist of all time. The small disruption a death brings that eventually subsides. A love that ends, but is revisited in silent suffering forever. Through it all, the listener suffers through Kozeiek’s off pitch notes that are anything, but charming.

In second track, “Carry me Ohio” speaks on finding peace in the beauty of the lackluster state against the backdrop of trance evoking melodies, which makes the listener wonder if the whole album is one, big practical joke! Ohio? Really?

The album does redeem itself for seven minutes during the last half of the 7th song song, Duk Koo Kim. Yes, it is 14 minutes long, so use the first half to take a power nap, if you weren’t already. The last half of the song is heavily layered with strange vocals and chimes. It’s worth waking up for.

But if you are interested in hearing this insincere snore, buy “Glenn Tipton.” Play it on loop 10 times. That’s all you are going to get from Ghosts of the Great Highway.