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Neptune's Ballroom is the latest release from Dogbane, an EP that follows a year after their last full-length, Idylls of Woe, in 2019. I liked that album as well as their debut (2011's Residual Alcatraz) but there is something off with Neptune's Ballroom. The sound is oddly stale with no depth or warmth, the riffs are just average, and I can't remember any of the solos being all that thrilling. The vocal lines are somewhat scattershot as well and in more than a couple of places, don't compliment the music very well. What's strange is apparently these songs were recorded in the same sessions that produced Idylls of Woe, but it sure doesn't sound like it. This band has always had an early '80s vibe and that is true of the four songs here but it sounds like Dogbane decided to tweak the formula a bit and, to my ears, they're going in the wrong direction. Neptune's Ballroom isn't terrible, just more bland and quirky. If you need everything from this band, be my guest but I'll take their earlier releases.