Notofu.com: Dr. Dog
Published by: Notofu.com
Date: April 5, 2010
Format: Web (www.notofu.com)
Type: Music Review
Dr. Dog – Shame, Shame
Shame, Shame, the sixth full-length from Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog, is still a bit lo-fi, keeping in the vintage-sounding style of the band’s previous releases, but it’s also their least lo-fi and most modern-sounding album to date. On Shame, Shame, Dr. Dog set out to recreate a live experience, meaning more electric guitars, more solos and more loud, all-in, full-band tunes.
With Shame, Shame, Dr. Dog continues its tradition of trading lead vocal responsibilities between bass player Toby Leaman and guitarist Scott McMicken, something that on one hand diversifies the arrangements, but also, in places, contributes to a sense of lack of cohesion. If you can get past the diversity in the lead vocals, though, Shame, Shame, for the most part, triumphs as an unashamed feel-good summertime record with largely solid songs.
The record begins with “Stranger” and its happy and pleasant groove, though carried by a bass line that is just a bit too cheesy for its own good. It’s a riff that could have been less noticeable had it been edited, but in its finished state is taken over the line that separates a smirk from an all-out, ear-to-ear grin. When the chorus comes around, though, the bass falls back into line with the rest of the band, making up for the over step, but you know all along that the riff is coming right back for the next verse.
On “Later”, the band achieves the aimed-for live feeling. The song features an almost constant mix of drums, guitar, bass, piano and vocals. There is intensity in all of it and it moves like a live performance. But Shame, Shame also features tracks that are reminiscent of the band’s previous work. “Where’d All The Time Go?” is a song that could pass for classic rock, which is when Dr. Dog is in its best form. The band has the ability to capture 1960’s sound and keep it fresh and nostalgic in the same step.
Shame, Shame contains morsels for old fans of Dr. Dog’s vintage sound and fans of the band’s live performances and for fans of fun, low-commitment music. It isn’t breaking any new ground, but not every record has to. It would be a perfectly suitable background accompaniment to many activities this summertime, and maybe that’s good enough.
3/5