Be the Void (Deluxe Edition)

There’s an energetic, first-take feel to Dr. Dog’s seventh release, *Be the Void*. Starting with the jangly roots-pop of “Lonesome,” the band careens with joyous abandon across a sprawling rock ‘n’ roll landscape. The delivery may be loose, but the songs are tightly crafted, filled with effortless hooks, warm vocal harmonies, and enough absurdist wordplay to leave Beck scratching his head. Distorted guitars, keyboards, and punchy bass lines intertwine on the urgent “Over Here, Over There” and “Vampire.” Lean guitar riffs drive “Big Girl” and “Warrior Man,” while the catchy “That Old Black Hole” and “Do the Trick” will have you singing along on first listen. The album closes much as it begins, by riding a relaxed acoustic groove on the loping “Turning the Century.” *Be the Void* is more melodic gold from one of the more reliable and consistent rock ‘n’ roll bands around.

After recording their sixth record with Rob Schnapf, the Philadelphia rockers go it alone again on album seven, something of a return to the sunburnt sprawl of their first few LPs.

After 2010’s meticulous, majestic Shame, Shame, no one was asking Dr. Dog to go back to the scrappy lo-fi rock of the band’s younger days. The group’s new symphonic bent was worth further exploration, and the relaxed swagger of 2005’s Easy Beat isn’t the type of thing that’s easily manufactured. But, for whatever…

Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog has been churning out jangly, earnest pop with a less-than-subtle nod to classic influences such as…

In their most rockin' album to date, Dr. Dog comes down from the clouds to unfurl their breezy pop from the ground.

Having pursued a smooth and soulful sound on 2010’s ‘Shame, Shame’, the 2012 incarnation of Dr.

Dr. Dog - Be The Void review: A solid but slightly underwhelming release from one of indie's most dependable bands.