Dr. Dog: Shame, Shame (2010)

I'm pretty sure every review of every Dr. Dog album ever written includes references The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Band so I'll just get it out of the way right now. Yes Dr. Dog pulls from each of those groups in equal measure but they are a fantastic band in their own right. Shame, Shame is the groups 6th full length and while their sound remains relatively unchanged that doesn't mean there aren't tweaks to it either.

Dr. Dog has stated they wanted this album to better represent their live sound and there is certainly a more direct feel to the record. A lot of production flourishes that have been present of their previous recordings have been streamlined. Electric guitars are heavier and more pronounced as well. "Stranger," "Later" and "Mirror, Mirror" rock as hard as anything the band has ever recorded (this is very relative since nobody is going to mistake them for Motorhead). If you've listened to Dr. Dog in the past do not be worried, their base sound is still very much the same, it's just the edges that are slightly different. The beautiful harmonies that dominate every Dr. Dog album have not been abandoned and are better than ever. Lyrically Shame, Shame is darker than previous albums but that darkness is relative and balanced by the joyous sounds of the music. Only "Station" and "Someday" sound weary and they add a nice mixture of sounds to the overall feel.

I'm not going to go so far as to say Shame, Shame is Dr. Dog's best album but it is their most accessible and most purely enjoyable on the surface. It's a no brainer for fans of Dr. Dog's past work and should attract new listeners without shame.

Rating 4/5

Track List

1. "Stranger" - 3:44
2. "Shadow People" - 4:13
3. "Station" - 3:11
4. "Unbearable Why" - 3:13
5. "Where'd All the Time Go?" - 3:55
6. "Later" - 3:09
7. "I Only Wear Blue" - 3:43
8. "Someday" - 3:21
9. "Mirror, Mirror" - 2:50
10. "Jackie Wants a Black Eye" - 3:05
11. "Shame, Shame" - 5:16