Beware of the Dogs
A photo of Stella looking down at a hand holding a bar of soap pointed towards her mouth. Stella is pressing her hand over her mouth. Yellow text at the bottom of the image reads "Beware of the dogs".
Studio album by
Stella Donnelly
Released8 March 2019
Recorded2017–2018 in Fremantle, Western Australia and Athens, Georgia
Genre
Length42:38
LabelSecretly Canadian
Producer
  • Dean Tuza
  • Jordan Shakespeare
  • Drew Vandenberg
Stella Donnelly chronology
Thrush Metal
(2017)		 Beware of the Dogs
(2019)		 Flood
(2022)
Singles from Beware of the Dogs
  1. "Old Man"
    Released: 10 January 2019
  2. "Lunch"
    Released: 30 January 2019
  3. "Tricks"
    Released: 1 March 2019

Beware of the Dogs is the debut studio album by Australian indie pop musician Stella Donnelly, released on 8 March 2019 by Secretly Canadian.

The album was nominated for various awards in 2019 and 2020, including Australian Album of the Year for the J Awards and Breakthrough Artist at the ARIA Music Awards.[3][4] In 2020, the album won Independent Album of the Year and Best Independent Pop Album at the AIR Awards.[5]

Background

In 2017, Stella Donnelly independently released her debut extended play (EP), Thrush Metal, to critical acclaim[6] She signed to Secretly Canadian in February 2018, and the EP was re-released by the label that June.[7] One song off of Thrush Metal, "Boys Will Be Boys", was included on Beware of the Dogs.

Composition

Across the record, Donnelly lyrically confronts issues including toxic masculinity, rape culture and her experiences with sexism from working in hospitality. For example, "Old Man" was written at the beginning of the #MeToo movement, when she felt "the world chang[ing] right before her eyes" as the "men who had exploited their power for so long were actually being held accountable for their actions".[8] Her songs also observe Australian culture and criticise nationalism, with "Season's Greetings" about an awkward Christmas party in the summer heat, and "Tricks" calling out items like Southern Cross tattoos and the Kyle and Jackie O Show.[9] Similarly, the title track is about "historic and continuing racism that flows through the Australian media and government".[8]

Release and promotion

Donnelly performing in 2019

On 10 January 2019, Donnelly released the lead single "Old Man" and announced the album's title, artwork and release date.[10] The second single, "Lunch", was issued on 30 January. She called it her favourite song on the album.[11] On 27 February, she released the third and final single, "Tricks",[12] before the full album released on 8 March 2019. Beware of the Dogs debuted at number 15 on the ARIA Charts,[13] and at number 21 on the UK Independent Albums chart.[14]

In September, Donnelly and her band embarked on the Beware of the Dogs Australian Tour with 16 shows across capital and regional cities.[15]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.0/10[16]
Metacritic81/100[17]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[18]
Consequence of SoundB+[2]
Exclaim!9/10[19]
The Guardian[20]
NME[21]
Pitchfork7.6/10[22]
Q[23]
Rolling Stone[1]
Uncut7/10[24]
Vice (Expert Witness)A−[25]

Many reviewers praised Donnelly's songwriting and the album's discussion of topics like the #MeToo movement and toxic masculinity. For NME, Hannah Mylrea wrote the record is "an enthralling and deeply relevant debut", praising its "searing lyrics" and playfulness.[21] Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone commended its composition, writing "the glazed guitars, sunny Casio beat and pure spirit of her songwriting keeps her shaky reality rolling forward."[1]

Olivia Horn of Pitchfork wrote that Stella's music is "empathetic to the core", and praised her "impressively dexterous voice, which she puts to work in service of some of her album’s most winsome moments."[22]

Reviewing for Vice, Robert Christgau said the album is, "in plain English and unassuming soprano, a musical encyclopedia of assholes, all male not just because she's female but because assholes generally are."[25]

Track listing

All tracks written by Stella Donnelly and produced by Dean Tuza, unless otherwise noted.[26]

No.TitleProducerLength
1."Old Man" 3:33
2."Mosquito" 3:11
3."Season's Greetings" 2:49
4."Allergies" 2:55
5."Tricks" 4:07
6."Boys Will Be Boys"Jordan Shakespeare4:04
7."Lunch" 3:40
8."Bistro" 2:03
9."Die" 2:54
10."Beware of the Dogs" 3:35
11."U Owe Me"Drew Vandenberg2:40
12."Watching Telly" 4:45
13."Face It" 2:16
Total length:42:38

Notes

  • "Boys Will Be Boys" previously appeared on Donnelly's debut EP, Thrush Metal (2017).

Personnel

Musicians

  • Stella Donnelly – lead vocals, writing (all tracks); bass guitar (track 2), guitar (tracks 1–7, 10–11, 13), percussion (track 1), piano (tracks 2–3, 10–11), synth (tracks 7-9, 12–13)
  • Jennifer Aslett – bass guitar (tracks 1, 3, 5, 8-10, 12), guitar (track 7), backing vocals (track 12)
  • Indigo Foster-Tuke – backing vocals (track 12)
  • Miranda Murray Yong – cello (track 7)
  • George Foster – drums (track 7), guitar (tracks 1, 3, 5, 8, 10), synth (track 12)
  • Talya Valenti – drums (tracks 1, 3, 5, 8-10, 12), percussion (tracks 1, 3, 7, 12), backing vocals (track 12)
  • Dean Tuza – drum machine (track 9)

Technical

  • Dean Tuza – producer, engineering, recording
  • Stella Donnelly – additional production
  • Jordan Shakespeare – producer, recording (track 6); mixing (track 6)
  • Drew Vandenberg – producer, recording (track 11)
  • Ewan Pearson – mixing (tracks 1–5, 8–13)
  • Tony Espie – mixing (track 7)
  • Matt Colton – mastering

Promotional

Charts

Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] 15
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[28] 21
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[29] 16
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[30] 43

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dolan, Jon (12 March 2019). "Review: Stella Donnelly's Real-Talking Indie-Pop Gem 'Beware of the Dogs'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 Dzubay, Laura (12 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly Takes the World to Task on Beware of the Dogs". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  3. ↑ "ARIA Awards: 2019 ARIA Awards Nominated Artists Revealed". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  4. ↑ "The J Award 2019". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  5. ↑ "That's a wrap: 2020 AIR Awards winners and celebrations". the industry observer. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Moodie, Claire (28 November 2017). "Cassette tapes making a comeback thanks to young, independent artists". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  7. ↑ Forbes, Matthew (28 February 2018). "Stella Donnelly signs to Secret Canadian; releases video for 'Mechanical Bull'". Outlet Mag. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  8. 1 2 Donnelly, Stella (8 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly Talks Us Through Her Debut Album, Track By Track". DIY. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  9. ↑ Martin, Michael (9 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly Puts Her 'Middle Finger Up' To The Patriarchy Of Rock". NPR. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Chabrow, Shayna (7 February 2019). "Today's Song: Stella Donnelly Bites Back on "Old Man"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  11. ↑ Maicki, Salvatore. "Stella Donnelly shares new single "Lunch"". Fader. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  12. ↑ Kenneally, Cerys. "Stella Donnelly shares confident new single "Tricks"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  13. ↑ "ARIA Charts: Jonas Brothers claim #1 single, Kerser album new at #2". Mediaweek. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  14. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart: 15 March 2019–21 March 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  15. ↑ Gallagher, Alex (8 July 2019). "Stella Donnelly Announces Beware of the Dogs National Tour". Music Feeds. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  16. ↑ "Beware of the Dogs by Stella Donnelly reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  17. ↑ "Beware of the Dogs by Stella Donnelly Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  18. ↑ Thomas, Fred. "Beware of the Dogs – Stella Donnelly". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  19. ↑ Garcia, Brad (5 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly: Beware of the Dogs". Exclaim!. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  20. ↑ Lancaster, Brodie (8 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly: Beware of the Dogs review – sweet-sounding songs with a killer bite". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  21. 1 2 Mylrea, Hannah (15 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly – 'Beware Of The Dogs' review". NME. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  22. 1 2 Horn, Olivia (11 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly: Beware of the Dogs". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
  23. ↑ Solomon, Kate (May 2019). "Stella Donnelly: Beware of the Dogs". Q (397): 111.
  24. ↑ O'Connell, Sharon (April 2019). "Stella Donnelly: Beware of the Dogs". Uncut (263): 28.
  25. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (6 April 2019). "Robert Christgau on Stella Donnelly's Musical Encyclopedia of Assholes". Vice. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  26. ↑ Donnelly, Stella (2019). Beware of the Dogs (liner notes). Secretly Canadian.
  27. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Stella Donnelly – Beware of the Dogs". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  28. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  29. ↑ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  30. ↑ "Independent Albums". Billboard. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
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