art and industry

Somewhere in the Northern Liberties hipsterhood of Philadelphia is a warehouse which bears the phrase "Art and Industry" in painted lettering, heavily faded by countless snowbound winters and scorching summers. It seems appropriate to me that it in this very same building that Dr. Dog does their recording. I can't explain why exactly, but maybe you understand. Their new album, Fate, comes out a week from today. It came into my possession today, and I was only able to listen to it three times through before I had to start writing about it here. Like their previous albums, most notably 2005's Easy Beat and 2007's We All Belong, Fate is a melting pot of genres and influences. Folk, country, and blues flavors accent Dr. Dog's achingly melodic indie-pop/rock gems, with the vocal duties being shared equally between Scott McMicken and Toby Leaman, backed as always by their 60's-pop-esque chorus. Pitchfork will probably give it a 6.3 or something. It will be another moment when you're reminded of why you don't care what they say. The album is great. If you don't believe me...

Dr. Dog - Old News (buy)
Dr. Dog - The Rabbit, The Bat & The Reindeer
Dr. Dog - The Ark