If you know Dr. Dog at all, then you know they’ve made a career of turning lo-fi musings and blatant stylistic influences into coherent, upbeat, psychedelic-throwback pop songs. “Be The Void” is no exception, except that it’s also quite different from other Dr. Dog albums. The band decided to take a different approach to this album: they structured their recording process around their live shows. Instead of endlessly fussing about in the studio, they captured the record in all its imperfections, preserving the energy of the raw take.
“Lonesome” is, without a doubt, one of the best songs on the record. It’s a junkyard, country-worn, rollicking, foot-stomping rock song. Shouts of “Hey!” break up the verses; slide guitar sloppily layers the background. It’s a bold opener, and the rest of the record doesn’t disappoint. Lots of songs on “Be The Void” channel this same energy. “That Old Black Hole” features some smooth drumming and witty lyricism: “It’s like that old black hole, no matter how you try/You set out each day never to arrive.” “Get Away” contains some tight roots rock and Fleet Foxes-esque vocal harmonies. Even better, “Vampire,” my personal favorite, sees Toby Leaman wailing (and almost screaming) into the microphone while guitars wail in the background with searing riffs that channel the late great Beatles.
Perhaps “Be The Void’s” biggest flaw (and Dr. Dog’s in general) is its inability to shake its obvious influences. It’s too easy to go through each song and name another song or band that it sounds exactly like. I find it quite difficult to listen to “Be The Void” without thinking of this other music. Another gripe I have is how the band can sometimes drag a song out a little too long. On this record it’s even more evident, as these songs don’t contain the electronic experimentation and drastic song arrangement changes that their older albums do. Songs like “Warrior Man” (which is kind of silly…) and “Do The Trick” just go for one chorus too long, so, by the end, you’re tired of the repetition.
On the plus side, these songs are absolutely killer. Every single one of them will make a great addition to live sets and they all complement Dr. Dog’s back catalog. I’m sure this album will spawn many singles and see the band even more into the limelight. Even on my second listen, I started to sing along to all the tracks and get to know their individual personalities. More than any other Dr. Dog album, “Be The Void” seems more like a collection of songs than a coherent album, but not in a bad way.
“Be The Void’s” biggest strength is the amount of raw energy it contains. Although Dr. Dog don’t take many risks here, their unapologetic songwriting and stylistic influences are right up front, making “Be The Void” a strong release in line with some of their best work.
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