Artist Dr. Dog

Michael Schmelling

Website
Dr. Dog

Dr. Dog is a Philadelphia five-piece with an affinity for ’60s-era pop (think The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Band). That affinity is the bane of those who complain that the group confuses inspiration with imitation, but it’s a thrill to fans who relish Dr. Dog’s three-part harmonies, cascading keyboards, and general jubilance. The fans have it right, though: What Dr. Dog lacks in dizzying experimentalism, it more than makes up for with tight, bright compositions, like those featured on the band’s sixth album (and Anti- Records debut), 2010’s Shame, Shame and the brand-new follow-up, Be The Void. And to the music-blog-commenter masses who seem to get a special kick out of deriding the band’s name: When you think about it, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Band are all pretty dumb when removed from context.

Updated 02/09/2012