SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE STAYAWAKES - DOGS AND CATS/LIVING TOGETHER

The Stayawakes
Dogs and Cats/Living Together
Surefire Discs/badHORROR Recordings/ShoveItUpYourCult Records

Transporting listeners back to the beautiful indie-pop punk scene of the early 2000s, The Stayawakes latest release Dogs and Cats/Living Together delivers an upbeat album full of harmonious melodies and punchy riffs.

From start to finish, the sweet vocals of lead singer Andrew Ricks bring the poetic and heartfelt lyrics to life. The catchy stylings of Peter Foulk on guitar, Steven Hart on drums, Jimmy Cooper on bass, and David Pryce on synth compliment Ricks’ flawless delivery of the bands signature sound.

The entire album is endlessly-playable but the band’s true colours really shine in ‘Jake’ with its muted verses followed by the louder than life chorus. In ‘Little Explorer’, the band shows its playful side and it pays off greatly.

The true standout on the album is the ethereal ‘High School Weirdness’. The song really pulls on the nostalgic memory and innocence of what it’s like to be young and full of hope and creates something that’s unexpected yet brilliantly inspired.

The Stayawakes manage to create an album that pulls listeners in from the very first note and keeps them intrigued all the way through. All ten tracks of Dogs and Cats/Living Together offer something unique yet on theme. It’s a cleverly composed album worthy of repeated play.

Artist Links

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE STAYAWAKES – DOGS AND CATS/LIVING TOGETHER

Author

Angelica Bottaro

Here's what we think...

Spill Rating

Fan Rating

Rate Here

New Criteria

8.7

8.0

Total Spill Rating

8.7

Total Fan Rating

1 rating

You have rated this

About the Author

Angelica Bottaro

Angelica is a Freelance Writer based in Toronto, ON. Her passion for music started at a young age when she received a guitar for her birthday, and it has taken over her life in the best possible way ever since. When she’s not searching for additions to her vinyl collection, discovering new upcoming bands on Spotify, or attending any live show she can get tickets to, she can be found in her room jamming on her guitar.

album review album reviews

7.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JACK WHITE – FROZEN CHARLOTTE

by James Burt on July 10, 2026

JACK WHITE FROZEN CHARLOTTE THIRD MAN RECORDS Jack White has just released his latest solo release, Frozen Charlotte. It is a 13-track, guitar-and-drums gauntlet, that proves no one has been able to cut out White’s adrenal glands or coax [...]

8.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE ROLLING STONES – FOREIGN TONGUES

by Gerrod Harris on July 10, 2026

THE ROLLING STONES FOREIGN TONGUES UNIVERSAL MUSIC The Rolling Stones are back. While 2023’s Hackney Diamonds may have given the impression of a fitting conclusion to perhaps one of pop culture’s greatest sagas, and despite questioning if they [...]

9.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SUNDAYCLUB – SUNDAYCLUB

by John Porter on July 10, 2026

SUNDAYCLUB SUNDAYCLUB PAPER BAG RECORDS sundayclub has been riding something of a wave of momentum among those lucky enough to have heard about them since 2025’s Bannatyne, and with good reason; their combination of modern production, honest, [...]

8.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SHE’S GREEN – SWALLOWTAIL

by Mercedes Chircop on July 10, 2026

SHE’S GREEN SWALLOWTAIL PHOTO FINISH RECORDS With Swallowtail, she’s green has crafted an EP that feels less like a collection of songs and more like an immersive experience. Beautifully written and thoughtfully composed, every track flows [...]

7.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JACK GRISHAM AND THE LIFE UNDONE – JACK GRISHAM AND THE LIFE UNDONE

by Gerrod Harris on July 10, 2026

JACK GRISHAM AND THE LIFE UNDONE JACK GRISHAM AND THE LIFE UNDONE LOST IN BERLIN RECORDS T.S.O.L.’s Jack Grisham has made a triumphant solo return with his new band, Jack Grisham And The Life Undone, with the release of their debut, eponymous [...]