Dr. Dog - Fate
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www.sputnikmusic.com Rating: 0
First off, Im not going to pretend that I know anything in advance. Before last week, I hadnt heard much about Dr. Dog. In fact, if my friend didnt point out Dr. Dog Lollapalooza line-up, I probably would have overlooked them entirely. Coming into Fate, I was skeptical of what genre I was about to listen to, let alone what it actually sounded like. After one song, I was hooked. It felt like a rejuvenation of the pop/rock that the Beatles and the Beach Boys had groomed and shaped so long ago, but hardly a carbon copy. Dr. Dogs Fate came by surprise; and I couldnt be any more satisfied.
The sound is what separates Fate from every other indie-pop album out there. It is like nothing out today, but more of a blast from the past. The Breeze is a quaint track, reminiscent of a Beatles track between the vocal harmonies and overall style. Most tracks on Fate contain a fair amount of unique instruments whether it be a horn section, pianos, or woodwinds that encapsulate the albums grandiose production. It makes Hang On, which is a combination of older soul tracks and edgy indie-pop, so enjoyable. Conversely, The Ark is paced like a war march with a rough western feel, showing the true diversity of Fate.
Fate is laced with pop hooks. Seemingly riddled in every verse and chorus; it is impossible to deny its catchiness. The albums opener, The Breeze reminds me of the projecting voice of Okkervil Rivers front man, but more compassionate. Behind the compassion shows an unspoken maturity. Army Of Ancients and 100 Years are two glaring pieces of evidence. The mid-tempo ballad, Army Of Ancients seeps with piano melodies behind a consistent crescendo within the chorus, which climaxes with a passionate ‘ohhh yeahhhh (it will make you shake, in a good way). As the song ends, a string and horn section whisks away the song until it fades out. Another relatively slow song, 100 Years is a modest song with a beautiful acappella section highlighting the modern-day Americana single. Lyrically, Dr. Dog exceeds even further.
Lyrical topics can be playful and happy at times, but heartbreaking in the same breathe. The gospel style singing in From is a prime example with a call-and-response singing, ‘Youre not my son / but you know my love [oh my love] / no it aint easy [it aint easy] / but it aint the type to give up and die / thats not my love. Another deep line comes from The Rabbit, The Bat, And The Reindeer. At first, you would think it could be a conversation about a relationship, but in reality it is a conversation with an old habit known as¤alc...
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