Album Review // We Are Only Human Once // Every Dog On Earth

A beautifully melancholy work of well-exercised songwriting, the latest album from Delaware, Ohio (a half-hour north of Columbus) band We Are Only Human Once is a gem worth uncovering. Every Dog on Earth hits hard and unflinchingly. It's morose, inward-looking, epic, thoughtful, and funny. The duo of Adalyn Clarke and Willard Fogle has been utterly prolific since they started releasing music with the band. From December 2018 onward, they have released 135 songs over eight full-lengths and six EPs. With a pace that puts Guided By Voices to shame, you might think that there would be diminishing returns, but quite the opposite. Clarke and Fogle deliver 10 tracks that span numerous emotions and tones with remarkable expertise. Perfect for fans of Pavement, Songs: Ohia, or Car Seat Headrest, there's a literate yet practically mumbled stream of consciousness that weaves the album together. Tonally replete with fuzz blended with acoustic guitar, piano, and harmonica, its well-articulated lo-fi production captures each cut lushly. No matter what you do, make sure to listen to "Better Off," "Release," and the final two tracks "Miss You More" and "Shifting Blame," and you'll want to dive into their entire discography and get blissfully lost.