All In Now

Known primarily as actor Keanu Reeves's long-running musical side-project, Dogstar are sometimes written off as a vanity grab. They're not really that, though.Is their new album, the follow-up to 2023 comeback record Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees, incredibly special? No, but it does feel full of passion and friendship. All in Now reads as a few friends having a good time writing and performing some divorced dad rock — and why shouldn't they?Reeves (bass and backing vocals) is joined by Robert Mailhouse (drums) and Bret Domrose (lead vocals and guitar), the latter's voice creating a notable sense of intrigue; his stunning tenor and vibrato that feels tailor-made for this '90s-inspired alt-rock world. Imbuing a sense of drama in every note sung, Domrose's performance stands out, positioning him as something of a less douchey Morrissey.Another highlight is the title track, a minimalist interpretation of a pop hit that drives home themes of self-assurance in the face of doubt — and it's damn catchy, too. All in Now actually doesn't have many low points; it's more that it's lacking in variety.You'll probably be able to tell what you're getting out of Dogstar within the first two tracks, and that's not a bad thing. These are solid, quippy songs that chug along at an enjoyable pace: "The Sphere" is a big arena-rocker with guitar riffs that would be right at home on a U2 record, while opener "Math" rests its laurels on Reeves's simple yet groovy bass lines. Overall, it's inoffensive.However, the drum sounds here in particular leave something to be desired. Many of the beats sound very similar, and the mix doesn't give them any adequate punch to hit the way you'd expect from this kind of music. As such, closing track "Wing" is a fitting end to a record that's just fine, landing rather indistinguishably from the rest of it.All in all, All in Now feels like a step up from Dogstar's previous releases, the songs capturing an authenticity the band's previous LPs haven't quite measured up to. It's difficult to criticize what's so clearly a passion project founded the palpable camaraderie between Reeves, Mailhouse and Domrose — ego doesn't seem to be at play in this room, movie stars be damned.