Hop Along’s New Album Bark Your Head Off, Dog

Hop Along’s Bark Your Head Off, Dog is singer-songwriter Frances Quinlan’s latest explosive, introspective project, released earlier this year via Saddle Creek.

The 9-song collection has varying styles, with moments of competing guitars alongside string instruments, layered with personal, lofty lyrics sung by Frances in a voice that is both rough and clever. In these songs, Hop Along shows that they’re not taking it any easier on themselves. Second track, “Somewhere A Judge,” shows off one of their catchiest and most lyrically moving choruses. “Afternoon vanilla sun crawls away across the lawn/Through the phone I pull you and drag your voice around.”

“Look of Love” begins quiet, raspy, and acoustic, but becomes livelier as it goes along. “Not Abel” has a similar style, which starts off folky and light, then splits into a louder electric half. One notable lyric can be found on both “What The Writer Meant” and “Not Abel” when Quinlan sings “so strange to be shaped by such strange men.” The damage it implies might be the most persistent theme of the album. She later argues back, “But by thinking you’re powerless, you’re really robbing yourself. I’m at a point in my life where I’m saying instead, ‘Well, what can I do?’”

Hop Along consists of Quinlan, her brother Mark (drums), Tyler Long (bass), and Joe Reinhart (guitar), and will tour Europe in support of The Decemberists this fall.

Tour Dates

10/27: Barcelona, Spain @ Primavera Club

10/28: Madrid, Spain @ Primavera Club

10/30: Paris, France @ Pitchfork Avant-Garde

11/2: London, UK @ Oslo

11/4: Dublin, Ireland @ Vicar Street *

11/5: Glasgow, UK @ O2 Academy *

11/7: London, UK @ Eventim Apollo *

11/8: Bristol, UK @ O2 Academy 1 *

11/10: Leeds, UK @ O2 Academy *

11/11: Nottingham, UK @ Rock City *

11/12: Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall *

11/14: Uthrecht, Netherlands @ Grote Zaal TivRe *

11/15: Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Paradiso *

11/16: Berlin, Germany @ Asstra *

12/29: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club

12/30: Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes

12/31: Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes

* = w/ The Decemberists