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Beware of the Dogs
Studio album by Stella Donnelly
Released	8 March 2019
Recorded	2017–2018 in Fremantle, Western Australia and Athens, Georgia
Genre	Indie pop indie rock indie folk
Length	42:38
Label	Secretly Canadian
Producer	Dean Tuza Jordan Shakespeare Drew Vandenberg
Stella Donnelly chronology
Thrush Metal (2017) Beware of the Dogs (2019) Flood (2022)
Singles from Beware of the Dogs
"Old Man" Released: 10 January 2019 "Lunch" Released: 30 January 2019 "Tricks" Released: 1 March 2019

Beware of the Dogs is the debut studio album by Australian indie pop musician Stella Donnelly, released on 8 March 2019 by Secretly Canadian.

The album was nominated for various awards in 2019 and 2020, including Australian Album of the Year for the J Awards and Breakthrough Artist at the ARIA Music Awards. In 2020, the album won Independent Album of the Year and Best Independent Pop Album at the AIR Awards.

Background

In 2017, Stella Donnelly independently released her debut extended play (EP), Thrush Metal, to critical acclaim She signed to Secretly Canadian in February 2018, and the EP was re-released by the label that June. One song off of Thrush Metal, "Boys Will Be Boys", was included on Beware of the Dogs.

Composition

Across the record, Donnelly lyrically confronts issues including toxic masculinity, rape culture and her experiences with sexism from working in hospitality. For example, "Old Man" was written at the beginning of the #MeToo movement, when she felt "the world chang right before her eyes" as the "men who had exploited their power for so long were actually being held accountable for their actions". Her songs also observe Australian culture and criticise nationalism, with "Season's Greetings" about an awkward Christmas party in the summer heat, and "Tricks" calling out items like Southern Cross tattoos and the Kyle and Jackie O Show. Similarly, the title track is about "historic and continuing racism that flows through the Australian media and government".

Release and promotion

On 10 January 2019, Donnelly released the lead single "Old Man" and announced the album's title, artwork and release date. The second single, "Lunch", was issued on 30 January. She called it her favourite song on the album. On 27 February, she released the third and final single, "Tricks", before the full album released on 8 March 2019. Beware of the Dogs debuted at number 15 on the ARIA Charts, and at number 21 on the UK Independent Albums chart.

In September, Donnelly and her band embarked on the Beware of the Dogs Australian Tour with 16 shows across capital and regional cities.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	8.0/10
Metacritic	81/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Consequence of Sound	B+
Exclaim!	9/10
The Guardian
NME
Pitchfork	7.6/10
Q
Rolling Stone
Uncut	7/10
Vice (Expert Witness)	A−

Many reviewers praised Donnelly's songwriting and the album's discussion of topics like the #MeToo movement and toxic masculinity. For NME, Hannah Mylrea wrote the record is "an enthralling and deeply relevant debut", praising its "searing lyrics" and playfulness. Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone commended its composition, writing "the glazed guitars, sunny Casio beat and pure spirit of her songwriting keeps her shaky reality rolling forward."

Olivia Horn of Pitchfork wrote that Stella's music is "empathetic to the core", and praised her "impressively dexterous voice, which she puts to work in service of some of her album’s most winsome moments."

Reviewing for Vice, Robert Christgau said the album is, "in plain English and unassuming soprano, a musical encyclopedia of assholes, all male not just because she's female but because assholes generally are."

Track listing

All tracks written by Stella Donnelly and produced by Dean Tuza, unless otherwise noted.

Notes

• "Boys Will Be Boys" previously appeared on Donnelly's debut EP, Thrush Metal (2017).

Personnel

Musicians

• Stella Donnelly – lead vocals, writing (all tracks); bass guitar (track 2), guitar (tracks 1–7, 10–11, 13), percussion (track 1), piano (tracks 2–3, 10–11), synth (tracks 7-9, 12–13)
• Jennifer Aslett – bass guitar (tracks 1, 3, 5, 8-10, 12), guitar (track 7), backing vocals (track 12)
• Indigo Foster-Tuke – backing vocals (track 12)
• Miranda Murray Yong – cello (track 7)
• George Foster – drums (track 7), guitar (tracks 1, 3, 5, 8, 10), synth (track 12)
• Talya Valenti – drums (tracks 1, 3, 5, 8-10, 12), percussion (tracks 1, 3, 7, 12), backing vocals (track 12)
• Dean Tuza – drum machine (track 9)

Technical

• Dean Tuza – producer, engineering, recording
• Stella Donnelly – additional production
• Jordan Shakespeare – producer, recording (track 6); mixing (track 6)
• Drew Vandenberg – producer, recording (track 11)
• Ewan Pearson – mixing (tracks 1–5, 8–13)
• Tony Espie – mixing (track 7)
• Matt Colton – mastering

Promotional

• Pooneh Ghana – cover photography
• Nathaniel David Utesch – design

Charts

References

1. ^ Dolan, Jon (12 March 2019). "Review: Stella Donnelly's Real-Talking Indie-Pop Gem 'Beware of the Dogs'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
2. ^ Dzubay, Laura (12 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly Takes the World to Task on Beware of the Dogs". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
3. "ARIA Awards: 2019 ARIA Awards Nominated Artists Revealed". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
4. "The J Award 2019". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
5. "That's a wrap: 2020 AIR Awards winners and celebrations". the industry observer. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
6. Moodie, Claire (28 November 2017). "Cassette tapes making a comeback thanks to young, independent artists". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
7. Forbes, Matthew (28 February 2018). "Stella Donnelly signs to Secret Canadian; releases video for 'Mechanical Bull'". Outlet Mag. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
8. ^ Donnelly, Stella (8 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly Talks Us Through Her Debut Album, Track By Track". DIY. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
9. Martin, Michael (9 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly Puts Her 'Middle Finger Up' To The Patriarchy Of Rock". NPR. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
10. Chabrow, Shayna (7 February 2019). "Today's Song: Stella Donnelly Bites Back on "Old Man"". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
11. Maicki, Salvatore. "Stella Donnelly shares new single "Lunch"". Fader. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
12. Kenneally, Cerys. "Stella Donnelly shares confident new single "Tricks"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
13. "ARIA Charts: Jonas Brothers claim #1 single, Kerser album new at #2". Mediaweek. 18 March 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
14. "Official Independent Albums Chart: 15 March 2019–21 March 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
15. Gallagher, Alex (8 July 2019). "Stella Donnelly Announces Beware of the Dogs National Tour". Music Feeds. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
16. "Beware of the Dogs by Stella Donnelly reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
17. "Beware of the Dogs by Stella Donnelly Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
18. Thomas, Fred. "Beware of the Dogs – Stella Donnelly". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
19. Garcia, Brad (5 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly: Beware of the Dogs". Exclaim!. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
20. Lancaster, Brodie (8 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly: Beware of the Dogs review – sweet-sounding songs with a killer bite". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
21. ^ Mylrea, Hannah (15 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly – 'Beware Of The Dogs' review". NME. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
22. ^ Horn, Olivia (11 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly: Beware of the Dogs". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
23. Solomon, Kate (May 2019). "Stella Donnelly: Beware of the Dogs". Q (397): 111.
24. O'Connell, Sharon (April 2019). "Stella Donnelly: Beware of the Dogs". Uncut (263): 28.
25. ^ Christgau, Robert (6 April 2019). "Robert Christgau on Stella Donnelly's Musical Encyclopedia of Assholes". Vice. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
26. Donnelly, Stella (2019). Beware of the Dogs (liner notes). Secretly Canadian.
27. "Australiancharts.com – Stella Donnelly – Beware of the Dogs". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
28. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
29. "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
30. "Independent Albums". Billboard. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.

External links

• Beware of the Dogs at Discogs (list of releases)

• 2019 debut albums
• Stella Donnelly albums
• Secretly Canadian albums