Dr. Dog might not be for everyone, but what’s with all the hate? The worst I can say about them is that if you mention them to others, there’s a 70% chance your third sentence will be, “Ok, it’s a terrible name, but they’re good.” But there’s no particular reason for a blase news item, an announcement about their contract with Rough Trade, to include such vitriol:
[...] it’s with more than a slight hint of bewilderment that we report the newly announced Rough Trade signing of relatively unknown (and horribly monikered) Philadelphia rock outfit Dr. Dog. For those unfamiliar with the group (hello world!), the band generously blends multi-part Beach Boys/Beatles harmonies with retro-shaded diminished chords to create… a wholly average local band package. Yeah, somebody draw up a contract!
Ow.
At least Dr. Dog is cool about it:
But bad press, doesn?t ever feel bad. It’s sort of, you subject yourself to any breed of opinions when?I mean I?m an extremely opinionated bastard and I would never want to be a music reviewer because, we all just kind of sit around and complain about modern music and the state of radio. I totally know what its like to hear something, and formulate an opinion based on the tinniest most superficial aspect of it. “Oh the bassline sounds like a bassline from a Beatles song. Clearly these guys are assholes for copying.” We draw all these hard conclusions, and I find myself doing that as well.
Check out a track from 2005′s Easy Beat and tell me if they really deserve a sack of hate, or if they’re as good as their name is bad:
Dr. Dog – “Oh No” (MP3 link removed)
UPDATE FROM SCOTT:
For the record, DDawg’s Bonnaroo set was worth checking out. Most fun was “Today,” a bouncy blast of lo-fi pop featuring three-part harmonies and silly lyrics about a summer barbeque.
Dr. Dog – “Today” (MP3 link removed)
And everyone was off watching Earl Scruggs, so it wasn’t crowded! Philly, holla.
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I saw Dr. Dog open for Son Volt this past July at Bowery. I had more enjoyment watching Dr. Dog, who truly seemed into it. They were a great support act. Jay Farrar would make rocks yawn.
BREAKING NEWS: Pitchfork is pretentious, hates everything
In Other News:
-Sky determined to be blue
-Earth still slowly spinning
what’s with all the hate? Dr. Dog suck, that’s why.
Fred, Josh. Josh, Fred.
I am not disputing that Dr Dog suck, they probably suck hard, but Pitchfork still hates everything. Except Animal Collective.
I hate them. I haven’t actually heard them, but I’ve decided to just hate everything. I save a lot of time that way. Now I have a lot more time to sit in the closet with my Monkees box set.
Seriously, though…they suck and I hate them. I’m sure after I hear their music I will hate them even more.
P.S. Josh, the Earth spins at between 700 and 1100 miles per hour. I don’t think that’s considered slow.
Pitchfork does hate on everything, but look at what they like. Last year they listed a three CD set of disintagrating loops as one their ‘Best New Music’ selections. Thrilling.
At the equator, the earth’s rotational velocity is over 1000 mph. Not really slowly spinning, but that’s all relative.
I think it’s an awesome name. I like that it takes longer to say than to read.
Who? Seriously, how many people on this planet have heard of this band? Maybe in the high four figures at best?
They were the subject of a fawning write-up in the NYT at the end of 2004, iirc.
I saw them open for Architecture In Helsinki and Head of Femur, both great bands, so they were in good company. I thought they were pretty good.
More Dr. Dog available for download at BadmintonStamps
http://www.badmintonstamps.com/zarchive0509.html#103
And since when is some fuckwad Pitchfork news intern in the business of telling independent labels who they should and shouldn’t sign? If my understanding of the system is correct, it seems to me that Pitchfork depends on labels to sign and develop new bands (yes, even ones that, god forbid, this hipster dipshit James Gregory hasn’t heard of) so that he (and other people who actually deserve the title of music journalists) can subsequently have new albums to review. Am I missing something here?
i saw them open for architecture in helsinki and they were goddamned awful. they had a HUGE following of younger kids who all rolled out as soon as architecture got onstage.
Saw them open for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (yes, it was like “Night of 1000 Retarded Band Names) and came to the easy conclusion that: Here was a band that wanted to be Wings.
Which is a whole lot better than wanting to be a “news” reporter for Pitchfork.
Thank you for stickin up for the Doc. You see I just stumbled on this website, and clearing the bad name of ahem excuse me, Dawg…. ahem… is one of my priorities. I am one of those “younger kids” that ditched out when Architecture took the stage… and why? Because cutesy apathy isnt my bag.
The thing that Dr. Dog has going for themselves, and you KNOW this if you’ve listened to the record the whole way through, there isn’t a moment where they don’t mean what they are doing/saying one hundred percent, the whole way through the record. Their arrangements are earthy, loose and breathing, and you can tell they have a lot of fun playing them. But my biggest reason for leaving before architecture played was because of all the 80s-ed out hipster chicks who i talked to at the show who were there for architecture, whom couldnt carry a conversation much less a tune. there’s my opinionated bastardism for the day.
It’s like a koan, or something: If you clear the bad name of a band that has a bad name, is there anything left?
Step off, fools! I heart Dr. Dog. The name may be odd, but the Beatles had one of the dumbest names in rock and roll if you think about it.
Oh good god…I can’t take it.
Scott, quit being so selfish, and get your ass back here. honeymoon, shmoneymoon. this is ridiculous.
What is “cutesy apathy?”
Saw them open for MMJ, I liked them….
As a personal policy, I usually like everything that Pitchfork hates (what a self-indulgent POS website). But here, I gotta say they were right. Not good.
Oh, but they did play with Architecture in Helsinki, which makes half of Williamsburg and the East Village wet their pants. Woop woop.
Dr. Dog are actually worse than the Hold Steady if you can actually fathom that.
i saw them open for Architecture in Helsinki and I was underwhelmed. Although they did help out AiH and Still Flyin’ do a pretty sweet cover of Bohemian Rhapsody as an encore.
I was underwhelmed by them when they opened for Architecture, too. I don’t give a fuck what they call themselves, it was just boring.
I like them. They’re a very good live band and their albums are pretty damn solid. The fact that they don’t try to be a neo-krautrock-shoegazer-Velvet Underground band doesn’t mean a thing. So they’re into the Beatles, Wings and the Band? So are a lot of underground bands loved by hipster Pitchfork interns.
Architectre in Helsinki? I’d rather watch gross growing in the winter.
Dr. Dog is one of those bands I really want to love, but only seem to like. They have heart, but they lack the hooks. Perhaps they just need to listen to a few more Supergrass records.
Look back at the stereogum archives to the posts about bonaroo, I said only see dr. dog.
they may not be that great, but come on. we can all agree that morning wood sucks.
i saw them open for archi. in helsinki and i thought they were good. and i am really critical of opening bands bc the one thing i HATE is a crappy opening band. but they were good, and archi. in helsinki were AMAZING!!! i guess i heart “cutesy apathy” whatever that means.
sounds kind of like built to spill, actually lots. I liked oh no but the other is kind of not very interesting..
update, both songs are pretty mediocre. The end of Oh no is pretty catchy though. Also after reading the review from pitchfork about it saying that it rips off eleanor rigby?? I’m all for calling a band out on ripping off another band but they seem to be really stretching it with that review. What’s that I hear? Strings? Violins? I think I hear a voice too..singing?? Wow way to rip off the beatles.
ha! i saw these guys open for my morning jacket and the whole time i thought they were a shitty local band.
At least the guy in the picture with the pink hair is a really good dancer.
Yeah even with the pics and music I still don’t care. It really is the name, it puts me off.
PLEASE ADD A NEW STORY; I CANNOT BEAR TO LOOK AT THIS ONE ANY LONGER!
Disclaimer: I’m a Dr Dog fan, it’s how i stumbled on this topic.
I understand people hating the name, I used to hate it too. What I don’t understand is someone calling thier live show boring! When I see this band live, I smile the whole time, I even laugh. They’re funny as hell, they don’t take themselves too seriously, they rock like more people need to, they look like they’re having a ton of fun, and they have great arrangements. How can any of that be bad? The hipsters hate them cause Pitchfork told them too (same reason they like Architecture), but I think there are a lot of real music fans who are in love with this band.
I can’t stand it when people decide to hate something because it is derivative. Yeah, maybe you can’t appreciate it as much as the original, so what. That doesn’t mean it’s not quality music. Get off your high horse you damn snob. Hell, if they are going to take after a band they chose a good group to mimick, and from what I hear, they do a pretty good job.
They do kinda suck. But the pitchfork article was way off.
haven’t seen them live, but i’ve had the cd for a while and it’s enjoyable even if it isn’t the most exciting thing i’ve heard. the name is terrible tho’, but that can be said of about half the bands that are getting press these days.
my take on pitchfork – if they like it, i’ll be curious to check it out. if they hate it, i’m also curious to check it out…anything that gets a rise is worth a listen in my book.
I don’t like that picture…at all!!!
they are great, but they always fucking pullout of their scheduled opening slots… i guess in that sense they are assholes, but otherwise they are seriously fun.
in athens, georgia….
they’re called DR. DAWG….
sic ‘em….
woof.
woof.
woof.
They had a great set at Bonnaroo!! MMJ was there to check it out and about 50 other people. Also, caught them at the AiH show and I thought that Dr. Dog rocked it.
The equation:
lots of people + lots of instruments +/- very little musicianship = AiH = Pitchfork Love
Dr. Dog? No thanks. If I want to listen to a Beatles / Beach Boys rip off band, I’ll listen to non-NMH Elephant 6. But they aren’t the worst opening act I’ve ever seen (that honor belongs to Whirlwind Heat opening for the White Stripes in 2003. “Like a trashbag helmet”? What the hell?)
It’s so fashionable to pick on Pitchfork. Frankly, I agree and disagree with them as much as I do any other publication. At least they aren’t as bad as SPIN.
By the way, I’ll defend the DFA Compilations to the death.
it’s fashionable to pick on pitchfork?!
HAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAH
Yeah, maybe fashionable wasn’t the best word choice, but you get the point.
saw ‘em open for AiH and Wolf Parade…they were showed up by WP but that is understandable really. I still enjoyed their set. Those fuckers were a half hour late..border trouble apparently :S
They day PM removes that giant stick from it’s anus is the day pigs fly so…bitching about it just becomes kind of redundant after awhile.
i haven’t heard of this band, but i’ll check out an mp3 or two and draw my own conclusion.
also it occurred to me, it’s not that pitchfork hates everything – it’s that an album has to be GREAT (or what they think is great) there’s no room for good, or excellent, or whatever bands. i remember their pants-spraying seizure over clap your hands say yeah… it’s like they don’t give a band the props they deserve if they can’t shout the name from the rooftops as the next genre reviving/bending thang of year 200X.
It seems like all the comments on here are “I saw them open for Arch. in Helsinki, and thought they were…” I fill in the blank with “a lot of fun.” One of the guys wore a goofy hillbilly hat and jumped around like Angus from AC/DC. The music was not anything out of the ordinary, but they’re good performers.
One thing I really don’t get though, is why people sweat Architecture in Helsinki? They annoyed the hell out of me live, and I thought their first CD was terrible.
I don’t know why people sweat AiH, but I know why I do. They’re ridiculous and over the top. I also like sugary sweet ADD pop. I probably own more “twee rock” albums than any other kind, so it was a given for me. The second coming they ain’t, but they rock my socks off something saccharine.
Yes i do suppose i shuld have elaboratd on “cutesy apathy” a think a way more potent example of that would be out hud. They are so darn cutesey that it comes across as passionless to me. Dr. Dog I’m like HEY they arent TALKING about anything life changing, but they are MEANING it.
And as for hooks, they are HOOk laden, but I think their hooks don’t presuppose the establishmeent of the indie aesthetic and that’s where all this disdain comes from. I’ve personally been waiting a long time for a band that subscribes to a similar ethos to that of say “THE BAND” was mentioned. Think about the basement tapes, or music from big pink. There would be no PAVEMENT. The joyously sloppful ethos. (not saying that pavement is derivitive of the band) to better say what I’m getting at…. is read Invisible Republic (also title OLD WIERD AMERIA) by Greil Marcus, which draws attention to the fact that FREAK FOLK is an age old institution, as old as if not older than america…. there is no folk without freak, until folks like pete seeger etc start standing for the preservation of “folk standards” some code of goold old boy american decency.
I am leary of the concurrent modernism that we are experiencing with the embracing of disco, kraut, what ever as a an artistic statement, YEAH PEOPLE NEED TO DANCE…. thats one way to handle the impending chrisis, the threat on our old american virtues. But the other way to react is to cry, to moan your heart out. I get that from Dr. dog, I get that from The Band, I get that from Banhart (even in the face of all of his whimsy) and i dont get that from OUt Hud or AiH and ESPECIALLY from Still Flying….. WHO THE HELL WERE THOSE GUYS??? That show at slims was wierd I felt like I was on the O.C. or something and incredibly out of place. I havent heard reggae that caucasian since I used to go to jamband shows for the drugs when I was fourteen. (god save us all)
Dr.Dog is actually surprisingly better than most of the shitty bands Rough Trade has been signing lately; those pands that pitchfork loves to trumpet – decemberists, sufjan christ, antony bla bla. the last decent band they put out was the libertines. their american A&r man is a real douche bag though, so it figures
That’s another thing about Pitchfork. People refer to tons of bands as “the band that Pitchfork likes.” I could understand if these were bands that no one else likes (ex. The Fiery Furnaces, aren’t they on Rough Trade too?) But Antony and the Johnsons and Sufjan Stevens both put out two of the most well received albums of the year. It goes to show that more than just publications like tons of bands that Pitchfork likes.
i always thought the teeth were better than dr dog but still pretty psyched that a local band is getting attention.
I saw them in Philly with CYHSY, and I was thoroughly unimpressed. Maybe I need to hear it again…or not.
Seriously though… wtf? I mean, I fail to see how you could HATE Dr. Dog. At worst I’d say I could understand “dull” or something maybe. I like it, myself. I’ve seen them twice.
Hate? Didn’t that article call them “average”?
Dr. Dog has some good tunes and Still Flyin’ is fun as hell.
I can see how someone would call dr. dog “local band-esque” or whatever. but since when was it bad to dislike a local band? they are good. it’s nothing weird; just some good rock. good jams. the name sucks, so i think maybe people hear that and it’s a strike against them before the dog can even get their foot in the door.
And Nehemiah- good to know that you think music should be played according to the color of your skin. Very progressive of you.
Well, I’m from North Carolina and all the local bands around here are awful. Literally, every single one of them.
And sorry crawford shippy, but I resent it when average white men emulate predominantly black art forms. Take my white dad for example. I could almost call his love for blues music wiggeresque. He’s a phony and it’s annoying as fuck.
Then again, Still Flyin’ aren’t average.
fido- you’re a different person than nehemiah, right?
i really don’t like the word “wigger.” extremely offensive.
so you have a problem with any white person liking hip hop?
“still flyin’ aren’t average”, as in “they suck- they’re below average”? that’s cool. but it’s not like they wear fake dreadlocks and try to summon Bob Marley’s ghost at their shows. They just jam some tunes.
Ok, I’ve shot myself in the foot. I resign from my high horse. In summation, I think Dr. Dog is a great band… and I am protective or reggae. Can you GENTRIFY such diverse artforms as Disco, or Wings Tribute Band, or “college rock” or “indie” … I would argue no. Foot is in mouth from here on out.
not sure i follow what you’re saying exactly, but at least we agree on the dr. dog dudes.
it just irks me when people divvy up music according to ethnicity. “those people ain’t black! they can’t play that black music!”
i’m not saying you’re a racist; i’m just saying that’s the way i look at it when people make statements like that.
i had no idea you could see color when you listen to music. guess i should go to the doctor and get my eyes checked, cause all i see is good music and bad music.
i hear ya.
Dr. Dog is an awful band name? What about Clap Your Hands Say Yeah? Yeah, such a great fucking name.
Also Dr. Dog is damn good–I went to college with them and I thought they were awesome then, even better now.
Why is “wigger” offensive? That’s ridiculously PC if it is. I like rap and hip hop just fine, but that doesn’t mean that I sacrifice my personality to emulate the culture. To me, that undermines cultural significance which is much more offensive than any word. I think if I were called “wigger” then I would be offended, because those people are clowns. And if you disagree with me, when was the last time you attended public high school in North Carolina? Please.
Race has nothing to do with it, but I just have a problem with an upper-middle class white guy who owns and distributes his own golf magazine (not gonna hide it, my dad) who would write songs about how bad he has it and all about the woman who done him wrong. It’s not because of race, it’s because it undermines the overall message of the music because it so fucking phoney. And there are white guys who do rap and blues right. Plenty: Stevie Ray Vaughn, Mike Skinner, Aesop Rock. On and on and on. But I just hate any poser who tries to emulate a culture that isn’t theirs and in most cases, it tends to be white people.
Hey,
If anybody has any live Dr. Dog shows please email me at lannyfields@hotmail.com
I like Dr. Dog. Saw them once when they opened for MMJ almost 2 years ago now. Had no idea who they were. Best opening band I’ve ever seen. Still haven’t forgotten about them. Listen to Easy Beat all the time and Toothbrush some. Probably going to see them in January in Philly.
I like Dr. Dog.
“The tidiest of things are forever” – Dr. Dog
Dr.Dog rules my world. Architecture are australian cuties, decent but hardly worthy carrying the mighty dog’s underwear.
i have been listening to dr. dog for about 2 1/2 years. I think they are amazing; they have provided a much needed soundtrack to my nuthouse life the last few years. I have seen them three times, and every time I do they blow me away. It has been a long time since I have seen a band so into the music they are playing. Good music shouldn’t be hard to listen to, it should be easy and awesome. dr. dog does both these things great. Not to mention, they are really nice guys. I look forward to seeing them again and again and again. I am counting down the days till the EP and LP. Last time I saw them live they played a few new songs including “Aint it Strange.” Already they were nailed down pat. Congrats to dr. dog on another amazing song.
i have been listening to dr. dog for about 2 1/2 years. I think they are amazing; they have provided a much needed soundtrack to my nuthouse life the last few years. I have seen them three times, and every time I do they blow me away. It has been a long time since I have seen a band so into the music they are playing. Good music shouldn’t be hard to listen to, it should be easy and awesome. dr. dog does both these things great. Not to mention, they are really nice guys. I look forward to seeing them again and again and again. I am counting down the days till the EP and LP. Last time I saw them live they played a few new songs including “Aint it Strange.” Already they were nailed down pat. Congrats to dr. dog on another amazing song.
i shit my mind the last time i saw dr.dog at bowery.
they fucking rule all living things-KNOW IT!
You fuktard wanks wouldn’t know good music if it bit you on the arse. Dr.Dog is a breath of fresh air from all these whinny, emo, primp my hair bands that sing about the ills of life and where mascara. Scott, Toby, Zach, Frank and Jeremy…KEEP ON ROCKIN MY FRIENDS…I’ll see you all in ATL….I GOT YO BACK….WOOOF !!!!!!
FUK PITCHFORK…and as a matter of good taste…FUK all you CRITICS….get a real job.
Zack in ATL
dr.dog d.dogdrdog,
fun band
terrifc music
neat art
if live shows could be bottled red bull would go unbder and coffee sales would dip.
pitchfork is for, well lazy people and slighty opinynated but thats wrong i am just adding to the pissing contest . dr dog sucks at forcing everyone to like them the oc is could call but i don’t believe they would accept the charges.
until I was 8 years old, I lived next door to the drummer. there’s my 2 cents.
dr dog does not suck. lets face the facts. bands like finger eleven and sum 41, and nickleback are out there are you bash dr dog because of their name? and i bet everyone immediately loved the names of the beatles and also the doors. yah cause they make so much sense. dr dog just doesnt make sense, their music must suck right? wrong.
I thought it was interesting to read these comments from 2 years ago. Look at—listen to—and, most definitely, go and see them LIVE…..now….After “We All Belong” making the top in Rolling Stone’s c.d.s of the year, many TV appearances and another on Conan coming up this August..a world tour happening, and the new “Fate” c.d. coming out as we speak, what do you think of them now??? Just try to even get a ticket to see them these days. So much for all of the controversy here. They made it big and have a “Rabid” fan base. I have yet to hear anyone make a negative comment, now, after seeing them live. They are great…and FUN…
dr. dog is incredible.
they are awesome live