Sojourn

Corporate Pudding - EP

Dogpark (2025)

9.3/ 10

“So this was a wonderful lil ep (they need to drop an album 🫩). Standout tracks for me include September~for the sound alone, amazing guitar work, and mixing with lyrics of transitioning from childhood to adulthood wrapped up in a beautiful metaphor of the changing of the seasons. Standout feeling of relation for me would be the more vulnerable side with themes of isolation and a search for genuine connection in a quickly changing digital world. I don’t mind~ truly not shocking for me as this one is probably the most vulnerable track on the album stepping outside of the societal punk theme and sliding into a more soulful indie style which I always love coming from Dogpark with Eamons vocals front and center for each shift really giving a warmer feel in the cold corporate “pudding” of a world. The slow burn style of production also drives this home even more giving the emotional build and instrumental build. The lyrical aspects explore a ride or die mentality with lines like “I’ll pull you out of the fire but only if you’ll hold my hand” definitely stressing the need for mutual connection and effort from both parties in a world that feels increasingly fragmented or fake. Overall theme~ themes of capitalism and isolation play heavy here with everything being so accessible nowadays and so many fish in the pond so to speak it’s easy to fall into isolation to soullessly generate income and become stuck speaking more to the younger generation. I’m always a fan of these themes in general but the band’s nostalgic almost 90s sound just speaks to me personally sound wise. But we also expand past that with key tracks I don’t mind like I already explained and outside of that there’s an overall feeling of nihilism moving away from your past and personal growth and change. Production~ I’ve already spoken a lot on the production but it’s notable to mention Phil Joly is the producer on this bigger names he’s worked with include Daft Punk & Tame Impala. As I’ve mentioned his style tends to include a “slow burn” style buildup keeping the overall listen more consistent. Notable things instrumentation would be the use of angular guitars and restless rhythms keeping the overall feel high energy even while discussing heavier topics.”