Dr. Dog – Be The Void

With Dr. Dog’s newest release, Be The Void, the band continues to be the indie act everyone else shoots to be.  Following the 2009 reinvention, Shame Shame, the album caries over many of the newer indie-pop elements, while still reaching back for some of that classic folk inspiration that first put the Pennsylvania band on the map.  Some have pointed out that the band has hit somewhat of a plateau, but I’d argue that it’s only because that they sound so comfortable and confident in their skin.

Throwing their fans for a loop, Be The Void opens with the southern front porch twang of “Lonesome.”  A catchy little number filled with twangy distortion, the beat casually rolls out a chorus of chiming support that seems to be in no rush to move on from its catchy tagline.  “What does it take to be lonesome” questions co-vocalist Toby Leaman, to which he answers the clever little riddle moments later, “nothing at all.”  Simple but effective, Dr. Dog doesn’t overplay any particular aspect, leaving the more complex moments to stand on their own as per the tempo escalation wrapping up a song later in the gravitational pull of the lead out winding down in “That Old Black Hole.”

The whole affair evenly swings like a pendulum between their allied pop and retro influences.  The finely juxtaposed back-to-back transition between “These Days” and “How Long Must I Wait?” serves as an easy case and point.  The former barrels forward on the legs of a brisk psychedelic, synth-managed beat not unlike those found with labelmates Islands, while the latter trudges along weightily under an earthy, Dylan-esque crawl circa Deer Tick.  The trend continues to varying degrees across all eleven tracks, etching a definite soundscape of sonic hills and valleys.  Catchy standouts like “Get Away” and “Do The Trick” blur the line at times, but are never too foggy as to not differentiate between what has traditionally been Toby Leaman and Scott McMicken’s distinct territories.

Admittedly the album tends to drag towards the back half, but a few key surprises justify sticking around for the full run.  In particular, “Warrior Man” sounds as if it could have been an unreleased b-side fromThe Beatles’ “I Am The Walrus” recording session with its psychedelic sound bites and strung out chorus line.  “I am the ancient warrior man and I hail from the ancient warrior clan, I created the computer man, hubcaps and soda cans” has become one of those cryptic lines I dually won’t soon forget and can never seem to get enough of.

Seven albums in and Dr. Dog stands tall on a melded psychedelic meets folk career platform that has become safe but enjoyable ground.  True, a couple of songs miss the mark (most notably “Big Girl” feels a tad grating), but by and large Dr. Dog’s strengths overshadow their flaws.  Always good for a solid beat, Be The Void is a sure fit in anyone’s indie-pop library.