Dr. Dog - Fate
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Dr. Dog was too modest in naming its latest effort Fate. The title discounts the skill and musical evolution evident on an album the band simply couldn't have made until now. The Philadelphia group's fifth full-length release has a musical richness and depth of songwriting that weren't fully present on Dr. Dog's somewhat less-focused earlier music, though there were hints on Easy Beat in 2005 and We All Belong in 2007. It all comes together on Fate (Park the Van Records), which strikes a near-perfect balance between sophisticated indie-pop hooks, understated psychedelia and lyrics that are reflective without ever sounding overbearing. The band took inspiration from the masters: The Beatles are a clear influence in the wordless vocals on The Breeze and the dreamy melody on From. There's an earthier aesthetic, too, that evokes the Band. It's there in the nostalgic...
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