What the Critics Said

“Perhaps what keeps Illegal from becoming precious with the ebony and ironies is that a handful of the album’s 10 tracks feel a little bit country–not outright honky-tonk, mind you, but dusted with a pastoral patina. A front-porch guitar strum feathers “The Whisper” into life. Angelic harmonizing and a laconic electric guitar line shadows “Blue Cordoba” with a folksy charm, and “Hallelujah” feels like an outright old church song turned worldly pop. This vibe is best pitched in “Your New Tomorrow,” where a gently shuffling piano and a waltzing bass back Dove’s twang-less vocal, making the song feel like a city boy wandered into a backwoods bar after-hours and traded shots with the house band.”

Bret McCabe, Baltimore City Paper

“Exciting rock based on life experiences.”

Nick Jackson, B the Site

“Uplifting rock produced by legendary engineer/musician/producer J. Robbins (Jawbox, Channels, Burning Airlines), “Illegal Activities” is a songwriter’s paradise of pop ballads, harmonizing vocals, stirring Fountains-of-Wayne-esque rock crushers, and dynamic songwriting bliss. Get this now.”

J Sin, Smother.net

“Recorded by local rock mainstays J Robbins (formerly of Jawbox) and Chris Freeland (formerly of Oxes) and released by The Beechfields, the sound of Illegal Activities is dominated more by keyboards than Dove’s previous releases thanks to Vacation Face’s Mike Ward on piano and organ, but the sound isn’t actually any softer. Christopher Demeo, of Dove’s previous backing band the Magic Whip, plays drums on one song on Illegal Activities, and the right amount of Keith Moon-style bombast that he brings to the piano-driven rocker “If You Think We Don’t Care” helps make it one of the album’s best tracks, as well as its shortest at only 2 minutes 22 seconds. That song, along with the peppy “Song For Neil,” the ballad “Hallelujah,” and the twangy closer “Be Free,” make up the strong quartet of songs that end Illegal Activities on a high note…”

Al Shipley, Mobtown