Pretty interesting title if you ask me. Dr. Dog always finds some way to blow my mind every time they come out with an album. Their Be the Void album in 2012 was constantly in rotation while I was in high school. Since 2003, Dr. Dog has always provided a very weird element to indie rock. It seems that they have been trying to find and possess a sound that is all their own. Their first album Toothbrush, received a typical amount of criticism. They were brand new to the industry and haven’t really developed a sound yet (still looking). By the time, Shame, Shame came around, many people believed that they finally moved on from their 1960’s intense feedback sound. Many of their songs still sounded very under-rehearsed, but at least they were stepping in the right direction. After all, this album was their first one that they made after signing to Anti. Inc. It’s really hard for me to put my finger on it, whether it is the raspy vocals and heavy layering of distorted guitar, it seems that is how they get the most out of their production. Their most recent album, The Psychedelic Swamp was arguably solid. However, I did have some drawbacks when I first listened to it. They seem to be all over the place on this one and I never really know where they are going with it. Seems as if they returned to their 1960’s distorted sound with a twist of some new musical elements. Stay tuned and you will learn from my reasoning.

So Dr. Dog is a neo-psychedelia/indie rock/indie folk/blues band straight out of eastern Pennsylvania (I know they are all over the place genre-wise). As I said previously, they are known for sticking with 1960’s heavy rocker sound. Let’s just say, if Jeff Beck and Eric Burton & The Animals had a baby, Dr. Dog would be pretty close to what I can describe. However, while many of these albums do not incorporate many electronic influences, The Psychedelic Swamp used as much as it possibly could into this album. Something tells me that the fellas over at Dr. Dog didn’t take this album quite seriously. Arguably, the two best songs on the album are “Bring My Baby Back” and “Badvertise,” in which these two were the main singles released. The entire album is 13 tracks and is only 39 minutes long. Knowing, Dr. Dog, this seems pretty unusual knowing their history of elongated guitar solos and dragged out Emerson, Lake, and Palmer solos. To be honest, I believe that the members of Dr. Dog were simply experimenting a new sound and wanted to put it on an album before they go on a big tour. Again, I wish I knew what direction they go in, sometimes I just give up.

Some notable tracks on the record include “Bring My Baby Back” and “In Love.” For me, when I first heard the single of “Bring My Baby Back,” I thought this album was gonna be a huge breakthrough for the band. It has powerful electricity from Scott McMicken and Frank McElroy and catchy hook chorus from Scott as well. However, once the full album came out, I didn’t really know what to make of it. The other notable track that I thought captured inner Dr. Dog was “Good Grief.” It reminds me a lot of what they were trying to do with Be the Void. Focusing more on rhythm and lead guitars followed by intimate vocals by Scott. This song is everything that I wanted of Dr. Dog to begin with. However, it is hard for me to keep my attention because the beginning of the album is so……strange. I understand the concept is psychedelia, but I don’t know who they were trying to reach. Bands like Allah-Las, Woods, and King Gizzard that have pioneered the neo-psychedelic phase is what I think Dr. Dog wanted to be apart of. Being that the band is right around 13 years old, they wanted to fit in with a newer audience by using demonstrating musical sound that they aren’t typically accustomed to. Experimental sound doesn’t equal psychedelic, no matter which way you spin it. 

I am going to go see them in Convington, Kentucky, hopefully, within the next two weeks. I am anxious to see if they will give us a Live from a Flamingo Hotel type of performance.

Listen to Psychedelic Swamp by Dr. Dog, available everywhere.

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