Dr. Dog album no ‘Shame’
April 20, 2010
Dr. Dog
Shame, Shame
ANTI-
Grade: B+
Sticking to the… Dr. Dog
Shame, Shame
ANTI-
Grade: B+
Sticking to the same sound is problematic for bands, but for Dr. Dog, it works.
Its latest album, Shame, Shame, is pretty much a repeat of its last few albums Toothbrush, Easy Beat and We All Belong, but it’s far from a disappointing follow-up.
Dr. Dog preserves its innovative combination of psychedelic ’60s rock and
good ol’ fashion rock ’n’ roll beautifully — with a few new surprises thrown in. The album’s highlights are definitely its title song, “Shame, Shame,” and the album’s upbeat second track, “Shadow People.”
Toby Leaman and Scott McMicken’s vocals are solid and sound slightly distant while complementing the upbeat and lo-fi guitars and drums backing them.
Overall, despite the lack of change, I would definitely call Shame, Shame a success. Yes, it sounds like Dr. Dog’s other albums, but the other albums were really good as well, so I don’t see the problem. There is enough new material with unique hooks and lyrics to make it worth listening to. I guess if a band ain’t broken, don’t try to fix it.