Songwriters who master the art of emotions are few and far between. Dr. Dog, however, has taken its talents and honed them in to create a very specific type of music. The raw emotion is exemplified, with happy lyrics that create nostalgia out of thin air. The band takes raw emotion and recycles it so that its sound is sweet and reminiscent of ideas like childhood or past loves or current loves.
Dr. Dog’s songwriting and the ability to retain their classic sound are vastly underrated. Their lyrics are sickly sweet, with pure emotions pouring out of every note. Songs such as “Nellie,” on their 2013 album B-Room, exhibit raw feelings with their lyrics and catchy tune working together to hone in on those emotions.
This ability transcends songwriting. Their cover of Architecture in Helsinki’s “Heart It Races,” has their distinct sound, even with the original being completely different from their prerogative. The song’s original, quirky sound is completely changed, morphed into Dr. Dog’s nostalgia ridden happiness.
Dr. Dog proves that not every album has to sound the same for a band to have a classic sound. Dr. Dog’s lead singers, Scott McMicken and Toby Leaman, have such distinctive vocals that any attempt to change their sound just wouldn’t be Dr. Dog.
Dr. Dog’s music sounds as like they are trying to be the Beatles, but they have such distinctive vocals that it separates them from the rest. They are as though The Beatles broke up during The Magical Mystery Tour era combined with subtle southern undertones on the guitar. The combination of synthesizers and southern guitar licks creates a sound that no one else in music is making.
No matter how long Dr. Dog makes music, I will never get tired of new music with their same, distinctive sound. As long as Dr. Dog keeps building its brand and being different from the rest, I’ll keep tuning in.
Shelby Campbell is a freshman studying journalism and political science at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Do you listen to Dr. Dog? Let Shelby know by tweeting her @bloodbuzzohioan.
