Be The Void

Dr. Dog | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: February 3, 2012
• Release Date: February 3, 2012
• Label: Anti/Epitaph
• Copyright: 2012 Anti, Inc.
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 47:35
• Genres:
  • Alternative Rock
• ASIN: B0070PVCUU
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,940 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Classic... February 7, 2012

By headstatic

Format:Audio CD

Simply put Dr. Dog is my favorite band, finely crafting songs that mix modern lyricism with 60's pop melodies & lo-fi recording methods...
But with 'Be the Void', Dr. Dog changes up their sound a bit for a vibe more in tune with their live shows... loud & racious.
As usual though, this is an album you put on & leave on with plenty of high points...
'Old Black Hole' will have you striving to learn the words like REM's 'It's the end of the world as we know it'...
'How Long Must I Wait, Do The Trick, & Heavy Light' are wonderfully soulful love songs...
While 'These Days, Big Girl & Warrior Man' are just plain ol' groovy rockers...
If you're sick of what's on the radio & are looking for something authentic... some music to live with... do yourself a favor & buy this album along with the rest of their catalogue. These guys are the real deal.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This album makes me smile! Best one yet! June 14, 2012

By Marty L

Format:Audio CD

I saw them live, opening for Wilco during their "Fate" touring. They were fantastic live and I didn't have a clue who they were. Now we own most of their work. I love the lyrics and the driving bass lines. Vocals are fun and they are full of energy.
Buy this album and try to see them live, and then you will get it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I always root for the underdog. February 25, 2012

By J. Hubner

Format:Audio CD

Dr. Dog are one of those bands that wear their heart on their sleeve. They write songs that seem instantly recognizable, yet are wholly and completely from Dr. Dog's slightly psychedelic, slightly melancholy universe. Since 2007s We All Belong, Dr. Dog have built a very strong and dedicated fanbase. They've also amassed their share of naysayers for also wearing their influences proudly on their sleeves. The Band, Beach Boys, Beatles, Velvet Underground, Philly Soul and 90s lo fi bands like Sebadoh, Pavement, and Guided By Voices have haunted the songs of Dr. Dog from the start, beginning with their eponymous debut Toothbrush. Despite backlash, naysayers and generally cranky, bitter idiots, Dr. Dog have returned with their best album to date, Be The Void.

`Lonesome' starts the album out with the line "What does it take to be lonesome, nothin' at all", then proceeds to get into some slide guitar blues swoon, gutter stomp rhythms and call and response background vocals that gives this song something Dr. Dog have only hinted at in the past: swaggar. They've often hinted at this sort of track in the past but never fully commited. A great track to start things out on. `That Old Black Hole' keeps things going with it's infectious rhythm, courtesy of Eric Slick, and an almost jubilant rolling chorus. `These Days' rolls in with the most modern sounding track to date for Dr. Dog. A fast, upbeat track with a constant, pulsating bass line from Toby Leaman and a great piano line. If the Strokes could write something that wasn't ironic or tongue-in-cheek, then they might be able to pull this excellent track off. But they can't. Dr. Dog can, and do with vigor. `How Long Must I Wait' follows with a great, almost caribbean vibe. Scott McMicken has such a great longing to his vocals. This is an absolutely great track. One of their best to date.

The album never lets up. With the McMicken/Leaman vocal trade offs every other song(something they've done every album) it keeps things moving quickly and keeps the listener waiting for what's coming next. There's also a real dance-y vibe to these songs. They seem to have fully embraced their 70s Philly Soul roots and have let drummer Eric Slick give these songs the groove they've always longed for. There's not a bad song on this album. The last half of Be The Void holds the biggest surprise, though. `Warrior Man' starts out with glitchy computer sounds then falls into a T.Rex vibe and riff and turns into a glam rock groove extravaganza. A Girlfriend-era Robert Quine-like frenzied freak out guitar solo takes this track to the stratosphere.'Turning The Century' finishes the album out with a sitar, dobro and a beautiful descending melody with McMicken singing "I been singing for so long, I go from door to door, but it ain't the song I'm singing for", thus ending what will surely be one of the best records to bless our ears in 2012.

Be The Void feels like the most consistent and modern record from Dr. Dog to date. Tracks like `These Days', `How Long Must I Wait' and especially `Warrior Man' have opened the doors of possibility even wider for these Philly boys. If you don't like Dr. Dog, check to make sure you have a pulse.

Now flip the record, lay the needle down, and Be The Void. Repeat.