Fate (Dr. Dog)

Fate is my introduction to Dr. Dog. I've been listening to this a lot recently, trying to figure out why I don't like it more. All the elements that I like are there. Great production. Intricate arrangements. Cool '70s am radio classic rock guitar sound. Good vocals and thoughtful lyrics. Every song has something to recommend it. But just when I start to "get my groove thing" going, a song will venture into Sgt. Pepper-ish string section or a four part harmony chorus that ruins the mood and distracts from the songs. The four part harmonies I find especially annoying, cuz they pop up everywhere. Instead of loading each song with ornate flourishes and embellishments that almost topple each song, I think Dr. Dog would do well to concentrate on streamlining its core sound. I can only give this three stars.

Yes, they sound like modern day 60's pop *(especially The Beatles, think "Rubber Soul" and "Abbey Road", among other influences), but man are they fun to listen to. It's a happy album when your Tool and is getting you a little too serious for your own good. I heard of the band just recently when their 2009 SXSW show was released as an NPR podcast. Check out that podcast for free, then buy this ablum!

Great album. I think Dr. Dog finally found the perfect sound they were looking for. Their past albums were okay, some good songs and some not so much, but it is hard to find a song on this album that I don't like, much less love. It makes you sit up and say, "Oh my God. This is great!"

I bought this blind from Amazon, based on the reviews, and having never heard of the band before. I was so impressed, I bought their first two albums. The music is certainly derivative, but if somebody makes a new painting that looks like a Dali, then well -- it looks GOOD because Dali was good, and to heck with those who decry the lack of originality. I actually saw this CD on an endcap display at Best Buy, of all places, and for people who buy CD's at Best Buy this might well sound original. It gets the "Beatle-esque" branding, though it reminds me more of solo Lennon, and there's a detectable love for Brian Wilson here as well, but the Bowie influence on their earlier records seems to have run dry. For the most part it is quite similar to the last two Wilco albums, with some harmonies bearing resemblance to Of Montreal's early work. Compared to their first two albums, this one has better production value -- lo-fi has its charm, but these guys don't *quite* have the songw... Read more

I was sitting reading in my local Barnes & Noble when they were playing this CD in it's entirety and found myself tapping away at one upbeat track after another and they reminded me of the Beetles a little bit...had to go get this and have not regretted it at all. The more you play it the better it gets. Well done Dr. Dog Great CD