Dr. Dog is a rock band that originated in West Grove, Pennsylvania.  B-Room, their 7th album, released on October 1st.  B-Room masterfully captures a unique sound that is familiar, yet different from Dr. Dog’s usual sound.  For this album, it seems that the band mixes everything they’re already good at with new experimental sounds and melodies.  Most of their albums in the past such as Fate (2008), and Shame, Shame (2010) have a rock sound with definite influences from the Beatles and Beach Boys, along with a psychedelic lo-fi type of sound.  In B-Room, Dr. Dog uses old techniques to keep frequent listeners interested, while also giving them a familiar sound to hold onto.

“The Truth,” the first track on the album, still has Dr. Dog’s usual harmonies of old-piano playing and Scott McMicken’s unique fuzzy vocals, but also a new Motown-type sound that Dr. Dog hasn’t ventured into.  The third track on the album, “Minding the Usher,” explores these new sounds as well. The song has a blues rhythm to it, which is similar to songs off the album Brothers, by the Black Keys. The tracks “Broken Heart” and “Nellie.” are still close enough to home for long-time Dr. Dog fans to enjoy.

Personally, I’m glad to see Dr. Dog venturing out of it’s comfort zone in this album.  I think most fans will be happy to hear the usual sound, but will also be excited by the new sounds and refreshing melodies that Dr. Dog decides to incorporate into their new album.  B-Room is catchy, familiar, and new all at the same time.  Dr. Dog’s venture into a new realm of music gives the listener a new hope for the band.  The members are talented artists, and it’s exciting to see what new things they experiment with in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUnpNq7U2Qk