Customer Reviews

We All Belong

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Dr. Dog just puts a big smile on my face. They mix elements of the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, and the Band. They also have a nice "off the cuff" attitude (i.e. rough around the edges, like Exile On Main Street)...their music still falls under the category of indy/alternative, but again, they owe a lot to 60's and 70's rock. There are lots of vocal harmonies on here, lots of piano and organ, great guitar licks, and some terrific songwriting. A few of the songs sound remarkably like outtakes from Music from Big Pink (the Band), and in a GOOD way... This CD grabbed me the very FIRST time I listened to it; now the songs are starting to embed themselves in my brain, in my consciousness. I highly recommend checking out this new Dr. Dog CD.

If you know me, you've seen my shirt. You've heard me drop the name in conversation. Dr. Dog. If you consider yourself a music lover, hail from the Philadelphia area, and have not heard Dr. Dog--wait: those three do not mix. The ragtag Philly-based band of harmonizing and alliterated minstrels has been pumping out material since before the turn of the millennium but has only recently gained acclaim for its new release, We All Belong. All aboard.

Taxi, Tables, Thanks, Text, and Trouble (yes, all their names begin with T's) waste no time delivering the goods on We All Belong. The opening track, "Old News," while only running one minute and fifty-one seconds, establishes the sonic atmosphere of the oncoming thirty-five minutes: Beach Boys harmonies meet Beatles song structures and recording techniques and begin to brawl. Next is "My Old Ways," which thanks to MTV2's Subterranean has scored the band a hit music video. An infectious piano hook sends the track into an epic intro, followed by a poppy verse and an escalating chorus. Studio static instantly bleeds into the first bass-driven verse of "Keep A Friend." Bassist Tables, who shares vocal duties equally with guitarist Taxi, exercises his pipes thoroughly in the track. "The Girl" gradually churns a drumroll-and-count-off combo into the thunder of the verse's guitar rhythm--run any track from Rubber Soul through a two-dollar transistor and you'll get the point. Taking a break from all the fuzz, the crisp, clean guitar rhythms, punchy bassline, smooth background vocals, and wrenching solo of "Alaska" embody Dr. Dog's originality and diversity. Grab a drink, sit down, and close your eyes to enjoy "Weekend" to the fullest: when you hear it, you'll understand.

On to the flipside. Subtlety is abandoned in the transition from the chill mood set by "Weekend" to the wall of sound that is "Ain't It Strange." The solid bass, heavy dub-like reverb, sudden time-signature changes, and vocal-tradeoff breakdown of this track alone make We All Belong a surround-sound system's dream. Anyone who caught the band on Late Night With Conan O'Brien this March was rewarded with hearing the pulsing intro and two-guitar solo of "Worst Trip" and with seeing how much Conan towered over Tables. Beginning with a simple piano progression and vocal, "The Way the Lazy Do" concludes with an abundance of speedy drum flourishes and words that rhyme with "time." My favorite track of the album, which, along with "Ain't It Strange", was recycled and remastered from the Takers and Leavers EP, is definitely "Die Die Die." The track is certainly not as aggressive as its title implies, but rather quite a sorrowful tune: guy's lover dies, he smokes and drinks himself into oblivion, builds a life-sized model of heaven, and, somehow, dies too--all this in Tables' coarse vocals over a bass-drum-and-clap rhythm and a harrowing but hopeful organ progression. Finally, the album concludes with the title track, which escapes its "Love is All You Need" lyrics by way of a small string interlude and a heavy reliance on a horn section. Again, this band is one-of-a-kind.

Having seen the quintet perform live twice, I can no doubt say that Dr. Dog's live show is every bit as loud, wild, and jubilatory as any one of its recordings. Keep your eyes peeled for the "My Old Ways" on your television set or computer screen. You may even be fortunate enough to catch the band live at the end of May at the Jam on the River: if not, tune into the David Letterman Show on May 23 to catch a live performance once-removed. And, please, if you like what you hear, do some backtracking and pick up copies of Dr. Dog's earlier releases Easy Beat, Takers and Leavers, and Toothbrush.

Don't forget to watch for tour dates either, because what better place than Philly is there for Dr. Dog to drop by?

What an amazing album. This is something that everyone should be able to relate to. It almost seems like the only thing that will save humanity at this point is music in the direction of Dr. Dog. Let's accept our situation and move on. If we refuse to accept reality as it is with all it's fear and hate, how will we ever move towards unity and love?

I found this band through last.fm (god bless last.fm) and checked out a couple of tracks there. Then I did more research and I am in love. Now I am trying to get as much music from them as possible!

This band is probably now my favorite indie band! What a great discovery it was! Dr. Dog deserves to be supported by music lovers all over, so please buy their music instead of downloading it for free.

As for We All Belong - great album with lots of catchy melodies and hooks, and overall great music. I can listen to it non-stop for hours!

It sounds more like Sailor and Beatles than the soulful and energitic pubrock from Squeeze. Good inventive poprock is this. No more, no less.

There is a review below that really says it all in how superb the music and lyrics of Dr. Dog is, this album is a must-have (as well as their previous effort, Easybeat). Thoughtful, intellegent lyrics combined with great musicianship and a stunning live show lead up to the obvious statement: Dr. Dog is the best-kept secret in music. It's now time for the world to know.....

Don't you just love it when one of your favorite bands puts out a fantastic new album? As a recent Dr. Dog fan I could not be more pleased with their latest effort. Their upgrade to the 24 track only gives you more of that long lasting Dr. Dog flavor and every song really is "so damn likeable". Give it a spin- you won't regret it.

Let me state upfront that I am a late-comer to this party. I was not familiar with Dr. Dog until I heard their music recently on WOXY (BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll!), the internet-only starion but the best source for indie-music in the country, bar none. I immediately decided to check out their most recent album.

"We All Belong", released in early 2007 (11 tracks, 39 min.), starts off with a short introductory track "Short News" that is just exuberant, and sets the stage for the rest of the album. "My Old Ways" continues the musical style of piano-fronted, horns-augmented, almost bar-style, music and it works just great. Other highlights of the album for me include "The Girl", a heavier-sounding track with crashing guitars, the gentle "Ain't It Strange", and of course the album closer, the almost epic 6+ min. title track, wich sums up the album perfectly. What a delight this album is, from start to finish, there really are no weak tracks on here.

Dr. Dog will release their new album "Fate" later this month, and from the couple of tracks I've heard so far on WOXY, I can't wait to check that out. I haven't seen these guys in concert yet, but surely hope to get a chance to do so when they tour behind the new album. Meanwhile, "We All Belong" is highly recommended.

Fantastic! Barring a week section in the middle, this whole disc is amazing. These guys know how to make a record. The lyrics are great, the instrumentation is perfect, and the vibe is jammin. If you like guitar-laden, beatle-based, hook-filled, neo-psychadelia then you must buy this album, you will not regret it, nor will your children.

Very nice piece of creative psychedelic rock. Haven't heard something this original in a while keep it up guys. This album is worth it if your into psychedelic rock or just rock in general. The music and lyrics are all great. Also i might add these guys are awesome live so if you get the chance get out and see them. Also i've met these guys at one of their shows their all really cool and will do autographs and photos with no complaints, Great Guys and Great musicians. They have excellent showmanship and are very skilled and tight as a band.