Rebecca “DawgGone” Davis Releases “Raybans in the Rain” LP

At the very least Rebecca “DawgGone” Davis deserves mention as one of the more unusual stories in recent music history. Her improbable rise to even the level of celebrity she currently enjoys testifies to the enduring ability of a single sincere voice to cut through the commotion and clatter jamming up modern life. There’s a deceptively jolly damn the torpedoes pervading the songs she’s released since first hitting the scene with 2018’s single “Middle Age Woman (Hip-Hop Style)” and success hasn’t watered her down.

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Her collection Raybans in the Rain attests to that. It’s the modern equivalent of a “greatest hits” collection and anyone who thinks four years is a bit early for such retrospectives doesn’t realize the accelerated pace of our age. We can talk about Davis’ longtime collaboration with producer Hellmut Wolf or her unique vocal delivery, we can focus on her humor, we can even call her songs gimmicky if we dare, but the underrated quality defining the work as a whole is clear. Her songs are relatable and close any perceived distance between herself and the audience.

She has what they call in fiction novels “voice”. Once you’ve heard the lyrics of songs such as the title cut, you will recognize her in everything following it. She doesn’t just find an object for her humor and focus on satirizing it, she weaves a substantial part of her personality into the song. The musical backing sounds a little jarring, perhaps, for newcomers, but they will acclimate themselves quite well.

It isn’t all just satire, however. Emotion figures into her music as well, albeit never in a melodramatic fashion. “Boulders Weeping – Cry No More” has a rousing hard rock attack that the vocals underline with passion. The way Davis practically spits out certain lines matches the arrangement nicely. Longtime Snoop Dog collaborator Chago Williams’ contributions to tracks such as “Darkest Hour” help it rank among Davis’ best recordings so far, but songs such as “Weight of the World” offer up another side of Davis’ musical personality.

BANDCAMP: https://dawggonedavis.bandcamp.com/

The romping techno/electronic pace of this track gives it significant sleeper popularity. Many listeners will, as well, hear it as the album’s best produced moment. “Judge Not, Rap Yes” is more of a performance piece than an actual song, sometimes Davis’ material blurs the lines, but that’s not a reflection of its value. It features one of her most interesting vocal performances and the lyrics are instructive without ever sounding preachy.

“Butt on Fiya” looks back to the near-beginning of Davis’ career at one of her earliest hits, great fun as a track, and possessing a deceptively deep subtext. Her willingness to confront the effect breast cancer had on her life makes for compelling listening, but all the more so because she’s found such an entertaining way of facing it. Raybans in the Rain may be the best single release yet from Dawg Gone Davis yet because it does what the singles can’t do alone – it collects everything under one umbrella and makes the statement that she’s more than just a lark.

Mindy McCall