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

8.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SYDNEY ROSS MITCHELL – CYNTHIA

by Roxy Macdonald on February 6, 2026

SYDNEY ROSS MITCHELL CYNTHIA DISRUPTOR RECORDS Born and raised in Lubbock, Texas (home of Buddy Holly and Natalie Maines of The Chicks), Sydney Ross Mitchell left home to find herself in the music scene of Los Angeles. This EP tells the story of [...]

8.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE GROWNUP NOISE – NO STRAIGHT LINE IN THE UNIVERSE

by Aaron Badgley on February 6, 2026

THE GROWNUP NOISE NO STRAIGHT LINE IN THE UNIVERSE INDEPENDENT The Grownup Noise is an indie rock band that was formed in 2005 by songwriter Paul Hansen (guitar/vocals) and Adam Sankowski (bass/vocals). The group also includes Katie Franich [...]

8.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ALICE COSTELLOE – MOVE ON WITH THE YEAR

by Ljubinko Zivkovic on February 6, 2026

ALICE COSTELLOE MOVE ON WITH THE YEAR MOSHI MOSHI RECORDS As is the case sometimes with solo debut albums, the key just might lie with that solo tag. It is usually a case of an artist that has already been in a band or has worked undercover, so [...]

9.9

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PUSCIFER – NORMAL ISN’T

by Gerrod Harris on February 6, 2026

PUSCIFER NORMAL ISN’T PUSCIFER ENTERTAINMENT/ALCHEMY RECORDINGS/BMG Puscifer, the innovative alternative rock outfit led by Tool vocalist, Maynard James Keenan which consists of co-singer Carina Round and bassist and guitarist Mat Mitchel, has [...]

9.0

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LUCY DREAMS – VVVVV

by Aaron Badgley on February 6, 2026

LUCY DREAMS VVVVV SONICWAVEARTPOP Lucy Dreams is a ‘trio’ from Vienna. The trio consists of two humans, Zero and One, and the third member is artificial, a musical computer if you will. The three members have been releasing music for a couple of [...]