''The Whistle Only Dogs Can Hear'' is the debut album by the alternative country musician

Kelly Hogan Kelly Hogan (born January 11, 1965) is an American singer-songwriter, often known for her work as a member of Neko Case's backing band, as well as for her solo work. Early and personal life Hogan was born in Atlanta, Georgia, the daughter of ...

, released in 1996.

Vic Chesnutt James Victor Chesnutt (November 12, 1964 – December 25, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, ''Little'', was released in 1990. His commercial breakthrough came in 1996 with the release of '' Sweet ...

said that Hogan's version of his song "Soft Picasso" was his favorite of the many covers of his songs, despite it not appearing on '' Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation''.

Production

Hogan wrote just two of the album's 15 songs; she cowrote others with former Jody Grind bandmate Bill Taft. The album includes covers of

Toussaint McCall Toussaint McCall (born 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is an American R&B singer and organist. His one major success was with "Nothing Takes the Place of You", which reached #5 in the US R&B chart, issued on Ronn Records in 1967. Although furth ...

's "Nothing Takes the Place Of You", Vic Chesnutt's "Soft Picasso", and Palace Brothers' "King Me". The album was recorded in Atlanta, and coproduced by Hogan. "All is Well" is about the death of Robert Hayes, one of the two Jody Grind bandmembers killed in a 1992 car accident.

Critical reception

Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference ...

'' called ''The Whistle Only Dogs Can Hear'' "a casual and sincere record that presents

ogan Ogan may refer to: * Ogan (surname) * Ogan Ilir Regency * Ogan Komering Ilir Regency * Ogan Komering Ulu Regency * East Ogan Komering Ulu Regency * South Ogan Komering Ulu Regency * Ogan River, in South Sumatra, Indonesia * Ogham Ogham ( ...

as a versatile, confident, personable singer and ... songwriter." ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...

'' wrote that "Hogan casts her luscious phrasing against sinewy guitars that often jut out or distort, enriching the groove ... The music rocks with the agility of mini-Morricone soundtracks." The ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television a ...

'' determined that "Hogan has every bit of the showboating vocal power of a Whitney or an Alanis; the difference is she knows how to sculpt a song and build a moment rather than simply flatten it." ''

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ''The Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' is the only major daily newspaper in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship publication of Cox Enterprises. The ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' is the result of the merger between ...

'' stated: "Juxtaposing ballads and romps, slick countryfied guitar licks and low-fi ruckus, ''Whistle'' resists settling into too steady a groove." The ''

San Jose Mercury News ''The Mercury News'' (formerly ''San Jose Mercury News'', often locally known as ''The Merc'') is a morning daily newspaper published in San Jose, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is published by the Bay Area News Group, a subsidia ...

Claudia Perry listed the album as the sixth best of 1996, writing that "while the likes of Gwen Stefani (No Doubt) and Shirley Manson (Garbage) were hogging media attention, Hogan made an album of girl talk about trouble and love that blows any of those young carpers out of the water." '' Miami New Times'', in 1999, considered the album to be "one of the great overlooked long-players of the past few years."

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

called the album "an eclectic collection of country-tinged torch songs and down-tempo rockers that highlight her warm, brassy voice. "

Track listing

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whistle Only Dogs Can Hear 1996 debut albums