Dr. Dog - We All Belong

First things first, let's get two facts straight:

1. Josh Ritter's "The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter" is almost perfect, and "The Temptation of Adam" is almost without question the quirkiest, sweetest and most interesting love song I've ever heard. If you do nothing else with yourself in the next week, find that song.

2. "Pushing Daisies" is getting better with each episode (and the first one was pretty awesome all by its lonesome), and Ned & Chuck have what is almost without question the quirkiest, sweetest and most interesting relationship I've ever seen (and certainly the best of television right now). Chuck is especially adorable, and were it not for my admiration of Ned and the whole "pursuing romantic relationships with fictional characters" taboo, I might have a new obsession...

Phew, I'm glad I got all of that off my chest. Now onto the business of Philadelphia's very own Dr. Dog (and free Dr. Dog posters!)



Does anyone remember the MTV Video Music Awards about 10 years ago when Beck appeared via satellite to half-heartedly accept something gaudy? He did it in this totally un-ironic monotone, like he was thinking the same thing the rest of us were: "Isn't Beck a little too cool to be doing this? Isn't Beck's music a little too weird and classy to attract an MTV audience? Should Beck really be thinking about his career in the third person?" Well, the answer to all of those questions is "yes," and Beck's cool stock went up another notch when he remixed "The Girl" from Dr. Dog's latest record, "We All Belong."

Reaching all the way up to the Prince of Indie Grab-bagia proves one thing: "We All Belong" is a tough record to ignore. From the fuzzed-out Zombies punch of "The Girl" (dig that buried harpsichord in the chorus) to the shambling and wryly creepy "Die, Die, Die," the band has finally managed to escape the "shitty Beatles" label that's plagued all of its previous releases. Yes, it's still recorded on analogue equipment, but this is the widescreen, glossy and embossed director's cut release that all the other full screen records have been leading up to -- hence the move from 1/4 inch 8-track to 2 inch 24 track. "We All Belong" is fractured and messy in all the right places, but it's held together by the band's best-written collection of songs to date. Its personality and execution transcends the lo-fi spirit of the songs, and avoids the twin pratfalls of all such records: the impression that the band is either slumming it, or that they're incapable of creating something more polished and deliberate. This is deliberate and thoughtful for sure, but it never seems contrived or less than inspired -- it perfectly displays Dr. Dog's essence, the here and now of a band that cut its teeth (and these tracks) on the basement floor without pretense or second-guessing. It's as much a classic snapshot record as "Exile on Main St." or "Music From Big Pink," and one has to believe that the band is simply making the most of its considerable talents without any overwrought consideration. Just look at the happenstance lyrics to "Old News":

We've been stripped down
hog tied and found out
and thrown into the choir
like sticks upon the fire

If the above is true, the band is skilled at rolling with the unexpected (and bandaging third degree burns, as well). "We All Belong" is a kaleidoscope of the band's best tendencies: honest and sloppy harmonies, razor-menace, slinky slide guitar lines and general inventiveness (the horns that pepper several tracks are fantastic). It's all part of the "Philadelphia Sound," a combination of push-and-pull basslines and frenetic, trebly guitars that wrap around your brain like a boa constrictor (and judging by labelmates such as The Teeth, it's Park the Van's gold standard). This record has probably spent more time in my car stereo than any other in the last 6 months, and if you want to say that root, root, rooting for the home team is self-agrandizing, so be it...I'm certainly not the first one around here to do so:


The embedded player may or may not play the tracks at Alvin & the Chipmunks speed -- this blog is like an unpleasant version of Russian Roulette -- so make sure to click on "download original" after following the links:

Dr. Dog - Keep A Friend

Dr. Dog - The Girl

Seriously, you need this record, and you should probably go see them on November 10th at the TLA. If you're interested in the Beck remix, the band has released a limited number of 7 inch vinyl copies that come FREE with the purchase of their CD (or actual 12 inch) at local independent retailers. Try AKA Music in Olde City or Chester County Book & Music Company in West Chester.

As an added bonus, there are GIVEAWAYS for anyone who's interested. I'm on Dr. Dog's street team and I have a whole care package full of fancy posters, stickers and buttons...leave a comment and you'll be bountifully rewarded in person or via postal mail.

If you haven't already caught the previous downloads for the Wood Brothers, Grant Green and T-Bone Walker, shake a leg: they're all disappearing this Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

WeAllBelong.net

Dr. Dog on MySpace

Park the Van Records