"Loaded with three-part harmonies, orchestral strings, heavy reverb, and fuzzy guitars." - ROLLING STONE "Continuing a Philly psychedelic tradition that spans from Bardo Pond to Sun Ra." - SPIN "Not that any great band... more » really comes from anywhere expected or anything, but HOLY FUCK where did these guys come from?" - THE FADER Abandoning their usual method of production and opting for a new experience, Dr. Dog recorded We All Belong on a twenty-four-track, two-inch tape machine as opposed to their previous releases, which were recorded on their faithful eight-track. A band that thrives on using creative muscle to overcome the inherent limitations of a minimal amount of equipment, the twenty-four-track introduced new possibilities as well as new challenges. Taking full advantage of both, Dr. Dog managed to make an album that captures the organic spirit so important to the band while introducing new layers of vocal harmonies and textured instrumentation the band had only been able to imagine prior. The recording sessions for We All Belong yielded material that the band did not feel worked with the album as a whole but seemed to work as an excellent bridge between Easy Beat and We All Belong. Dr. Dog released this material in September 2006 as a six-song EP, Takers and Leavers, which Rolling Stone raved "matches The Shins with smart, retro psych rock." We All Belong was recorded in between headlining dates, a European tour with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and US dates with The Strokes.« less
"Loaded with three-part harmonies, orchestral strings, heavy reverb, and fuzzy guitars." - ROLLING STONE "Continuing a Philly psychedelic tradition that spans from Bardo Pond to Sun Ra." - SPIN "Not that any great band really comes from anywhere expected or anything, but HOLY FUCK where did these guys come from?" - THE FADER Abandoning their usual method of production and opting for a new experience, Dr. Dog recorded We All Belong on a twenty-four-track, two-inch tape machine as opposed to their previous releases, which were recorded on their faithful eight-track. A band that thrives on using creative muscle to overcome the inherent limitations of a minimal amount of equipment, the twenty-four-track introduced new possibilities as well as new challenges. Taking full advantage of both, Dr. Dog managed to make an album that captures the organic spirit so important to the band while introducing new layers of vocal harmonies and textured instrumentation the band had only been able to imagine prior. The recording sessions for We All Belong yielded material that the band did not feel worked with the album as a whole but seemed to work as an excellent bridge between Easy Beat and We All Belong. Dr. Dog released this material in September 2006 as a six-song EP, Takers and Leavers, which Rolling Stone raved "matches The Shins with smart, retro psych rock." We All Belong was recorded in between headlining dates, a European tour with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, and US dates with The Strokes.
"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."
BEST BAND ON THE PLANET
truthseeker1 | baltimore, maryland USA | 04/24/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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....."
What can I possibly say?
E.C. | New York, NY | 03/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
A Breath of Fresh Air
K. Walter | los angeles | 08/22/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If there's one word that I could use to describe Dr. Dog, it would be uplifting. When I listen to their music, all of my troubles go away - and this is no lie. The attitude and energy that they bring to their music is just phenomenal. It seems as though they make music for themselves and then choose to share it with the fans. On "We All Belong", Dr. Dog has taken two older songs, "Ain't it Strange" and "Die Die Die", and they have merged them onto one record with 9 new ones. The old and new blend together very well and the entire 11 songs display the range of Dr. Dog quite well. You have the 'ballad' "Keep a Friend" and then right after the rocker "The Girl". They have guitar solos that make you want to float away on "Ain't in Strange" and "Worst Trip". A fan (and critic) favorite has been "Alaska". The vocals are amazing on this album, along with every other piece of the band. Some may say that the vocals sound "off", but that unique twisting of the vocals is a Dr. Dog staple, in my opinion. They wouldn't be Dr. Dog without a little screeching, squealing or yelling every once and a while. Music isn't supposed to be all pretty and packaged for you, it's supposed to be raw and real! Dr. Dog gets my money for this record, all of their past records, any show that they may play near me and any record they may make in the future.
A+ times 1,000. Pick up this record. Your ears will thank you."
Dr. dog--we all belong
Kyle Simmons | 08/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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?
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
