Dr. Dog - We All Belong

I’m nonplussed by the fact that so few people know who Dr. Dog is—do you? Hell, I didn’t until the band’s wonderful racket woke me up (I was exhausted) between sets from Cold War Kids and Tapes ‘n Tapes at CMJ this past November. It’s appalling that the Philly DIYers don’t have their collective mug plastered across every indie rag and webmag across the interglobe. We All Belong is their fourth (I think) record, and channels The Band nearly as much as it does the Olivia Tremor Control and Guided By Voices. “Alaska” sounds like Robbie Robertson with a smooth soul band backing him, chiming in with exquisite harmonies; “Ain’t It Strange” could be the result of Wayne Coyne exploring his rootsy side. Packaged with a sense of humor (check the record’s liner notes for a cross-dressing George Washington cutout), Dr. Dog will be indelibly burned into the minds of anyone who happens upon them. [www.drdogmusic.com]