Entering adulthood and all the confusion it brings are evergreen themes in music—and for good reason. Life isn’t always a cakewalk. Having played music together since they were literal children, Chase Petra’s Hunter Allen (vox/guitar) and Evan Schaid (drums) have quite literally grown up on stage. Joined by bassist/vocalist Brooke Dickson, Lullabies for Dogs captures over five years of life experience the Long Beach trio has racked up since their debut, Liminal landed in 2019. Their sophomore album is a propulsive collection of emo-tinged rockers, packed with endless hooks and marked by impressive lyrical maturity.
The biggest pitfall Chase Petra could have taken was leaning too far into the melodrama of your 20s— or, worse, making light of these formative years. Luckily, they’ve walked this tightrope artfully, producing a record that’s as catchy as it is emotionally rewarding.
While Liminal showed promise, LFD is a far more realized project. Co-produced with frequent collaborator Scoops Dardaris, the 13-song tracklist is polished but not overly glossy. The core trio’s instruments shine through with a punchy mix, while the odd use of multi tracked acoustic guitar, sax and backing vocals adds texture to their alternative rock sound.
On tracks like “Bread and Circus,” echoes of early Panic! at the Disco emerge, with the darker side of life taken on with wry smiles and theatrically over-the-top lyrics. Humor is the band’s secret weapon, and Allen’s lyrics catch you off guard at times.
The album highlight, “Because I Own My Own Dog,” opens with a line that hits Smiths-esque levels of tongue-in-cheek relationship commentary: “I walked into a church, didn’t catch fire / Probably because we’re not living in sin anymore.” Sure, breakups suck, but it’s healthy to laugh about them sometimes.
The Smiths aren’t the only UK outfit the group channels. “Two Nights in New York,” with its atmospheric drums and haunting vocals, clearly draws inspiration from The Cranberries’ brand of wistful songwriting. The track marks a significant departure from the album’s more emo-rock elements and showcases a young band growing in musical confidence. Similarly, “IWYTWT” packs a bruising bassline and frantic guitar, as the trio flirts with art-punk elements to great effect.
Lullabies for Dogs is a damn good time, perfect for both angst-ridden teens and older indie heads. It showcases a band that’s grown in confidence, with some solid musical and lyrical chops. Chase Petra’s second effort surpasses their debut in every way. It’s immediately accessible but still feels more vulnerable and experimental.
Whether you’re looking to rock away your blues or wallow in your bedroom, this album’s got you covered. Lullabies for Dogs solidifies Chase Petra as a band to watch closely. They’ve got the special sauce, and they’re only refining the recipe with time.