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Philadelphia revivalists refine Fabness
“Put that needle to the groove and sing, ‘ooooooooooooh,’” Dr. Dog croons on “The Breeze,” Fate’s opening track. The band’s fifth album employs unabashed Beatles arrangements as if the Fab Four were a genre unto themselves, and Dr. Dog merely traditionalists. There’s plenty of British music hall in “The Old Days,” but there’s also a hint of reggae’s aphoristic simplicity (“Chop! Chop! Chop! Tree gonna fall down”). Even on ooooooooooooh-absent “The Ark,” which borders on Raconteurish blues sludge, Dr. Dog eventually snaps to stateliness so dude can get his McCartney on. “From,” which follows, is virtually all harmonies, cool and pleasant. So instantly pleasing, the trickery is transparent, a hook to keep listening until the content of Toby Leaman and Scott McMicken’s songs makes itself known. One can’t blame them. If it feels good, do it. Right?
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Not that there's anything wrong with pushing the envelope, but sometimes remembering where you're "From" ain't so bad either. Sometimes a bit too much credit is given to mediocre songwriters doing something different, that we forget how difficult crafting a song in the shadows of Brian Wilson and George Harrison can be. Certainly, everyone holds a bit of nostalgia for "Pet Sounds" or "The White Album", which is what both dooms and saves Dr. Dog's "Fate". They captivate our nostalgia and make lovable, but unoriginal songs. Despite this, the songs are remarkably well-crafted, from the quiet and twangy opener "The Breeze" to the gospel crooning of "Hang On", and the layered harmonies of "From". Sure they may not be original, but they sure do the old real good. Isn't that the reason you're still hanging onto your old LPs instead of buying CDs?
Brilliant production and performance. Great live show too.