Dose - Singleton 7" (1991, C/Z)

Eugene, OR's Dose made their way onto my ever-lovin radar when they dropped the wonderful "Eyesore" on the Teriyaki Asthma Vol. VIII compilation in 1992.  The song in question was a magnificent, three-and-a-half-minute maelstrom of distortion and hypnotic vocals underpinned by a discernable quotient of melody that's never quite abandoned my eardrums in the 32 years since.  And typically, I haven't heard much else from this band that's affected me the same, not even close to be honest.  Nonetheless, a Dose full length, the splendidly titled, The Planet Purgatory Field Companion, made it's way to market in '94, but prior to the album and even preceding the aforementioned compilation gem there was this 45 that was just kinda... there to be honest. If "Eyesore" drew from the skewed art punk of say, Shudder to Think, the A-side of the wax I'm presenting today, "Singleton" definitely boasts a groove (not to mention plenty of wailing rancor), but is considerably underwritten, sans a memorable chorus, if there's any chorus to be had at all.  The flip, the doubly lengthier "Sparrow Song" does fare a tad better, bearing another pronounced bass groove and plenty of pent-up tension, yet not enough to really nail itself to the wall.  At any rate, I'm including my Dose song of choice ("Eyesore") as a crucial appendix to this somewhat iffy single.

A. Singleton

B. Sparrow Song

plus: Eyesore (from Teriyaki Asthma Vol. VIII)

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