Shame, Shame was my introduction to Dr. Dog – and a spectacular one, at that.  As I understand it, Dr. Dog’s past work swayed toward the psychedelic, indie electronic type of music (from bands like Passion Pit and MGMT) that seems to be the latest fad.  However, ‘Shame, Shame’ is a bit different, and it’s refreshing to know that there are still some cases in which this  music sounds good even in the absence of mood-enhancing substances.

Dr. Dog puts forth a classic rock sound on ‘Shame, Shame’ but keeps it fresh with a little bit of indie rock and a splash of electronica here and there.  While the music isn’t so extravagant that it detracts from the vocals, it is more than sufficient to accompany the ornate vocal arrangements found on the album.  Dr. Dog keeps its beats simple by limiting the bells and whistles and using only some of the most common instruments: guitars, pianos, and percussion.  I believe the vocal ability of the band is what makes them stand out.  The lead singer has a highly distinguishable voice, decorated with a raspy finish (reminding me of M. Ward, Wilco and, at some points, Magnetic Fields).  In addition, the stellar vocal support provided by other band members on many of the tracks, creates a particularly pleasant, unified sound.

This album is a delightful listen for a sunny spring afternoon (I tell you this from first-hand experience) and yet it is versatile enough to work in any situation you chose: ‘Shame, Shame’ will leave you feeling satisfied and happy no matter the time and place.  Track highlights on the album are so abundant that it’d be ridiculous to even bother listing them in their entirety.  In all sincerity, almost every song on this album is magnificent. The only exception is, interestingly enough, the title track.

This song fails to demonstrate the band’s clearly apparent talent, and as a result sounds just like anything else you might hear from other artists.  Although this may not seem like such a horrible assessment, I’d say that any great artist must be able to separate themselves from all others; they must, indeed, be extraordinary.  Subsequently, the album might actually have been more solid had it excluded ‘Shame, Shame’ altogether.  That aside, the rest of the album makes up for the lack of character exhibited in this one song.  As such, Shame, Shame undoubtedly earns my vote as an album worth purchasing.

This album becomes increasingly more appealing to me each time I listen to it.  I believe that it’s much more than just an album to suit the times; it’s albums like this one that will last through the years. ‘Shame, Shame’ promises much for the future of Dr. Dog. If the band continues to create albums like this, they should – and will deserve – to become extremely successful.