Fate

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Fate album cover
Album Information

Total Tracks: 11   Total Length: 44:19

eMusic Review 0

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Tolu Onafowokan

eMusic Contributor

07.22.08
Dr. Dog, Fate
2008 | Label: Park the Van / The Orchard

Many modern acts aim for the soulful, but they rarely accomplish it to the same extent that Dr. Dog do on their latest release. “The Beach” warns that “fate has a funny way of coming around” with a slow build reminiscent of the altar call at a sweaty, down-south gospel revival. “The Ark,” “100 Days” and “Army of Ancients” play in the same apocalyptic manner, with bluesy guitars and wailing vocals that take hold of the heartstrings and never let go.

“The Rabbit, The Bat & The Reindeer” and “The Old Days” showcase Dr. Dog's more quirky and fanciful side with jaunty piano and playful sing-a-longs. With “Hang On” they strike a beautiful balance between the dark and the light with a simple, expressive love song that cries “I don't need no doctor to tear me all apart/ I just need you to mend my heart.”

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user avatar

Excellent albumcrafting

thermocaster

This is how records used to be conceived and recorded. Fate does a great job of grabbing you up from the first notes and not letting go until the train disappears at the end of My Friend.

user avatar

I likes what I hear

AlexNC

This is a great album. It has a timeless sound of a mix between the darker Beatles stuff mixed with a little of the more tolerable Greatful Dead studio songs. Very 'full' sound music. Give it a try, you wont be sorry.

user avatar

Great Stuff!

Johnnyfacelift

These guys are masters of taking different styles and blending them together to make music that is interesting and full of life. They layer different instruments and sounds with almost perfect execution. If your a fan of The Beatles than you will totally dig these guys... fantastic!

user avatar

Not quite as strong as their previous

Aeschulus

But better than just about anything out there today! "We All Belong", their previous, was a gem of an album, bringing their quirky 70s-Americana renewal to anyone who would hear it in this generation. This album is both quirkier (back to their roots I suppose) and less well put together (also back to their roots), and is also a must-have - run and get it!

user avatar

An Earnest Revival...Soulful & Honest

cbass116

If you've ever heard a Dr. Dog album and thought them odd,sporadic, and/or stoned - not many would disagree. But with FATE, you have a band reborn. And I can only compare it to Radiohead's"OK Computer" or Wilco "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. It's that crafted and that good...Also check out "The Teeth" on Park the Van

user avatar

Their best, hands down

puzzolente

Nice to see them get away from the direct Beatles rehash and/or lo-fi crap of many of their previous releases, which I've always found really grating. I particularly enjoy the darker notes of "The Ark" and "The Beach", but entire thing worth a listen.

user avatar

Good luck not playing it into the ground

dcjj3099

One of those albums full of songs you catch yourself humming. Full of influences (Beatles, Beach Boys, The Band) but also unique. You will play it over and over again. Great live act, too.

user avatar

Keep Coming Back. . .

rillimd

This was my first Dr. Dog album and over the last months, I have found myself coming back and hitting play on this one more than others I have downloaded. I even went back and downloaded their earlier album, "We All Belong." This one is more "polished," but both are worth having--the sound is retro but definitely with a post modern playful edge.

user avatar

Great Stuff

15HEAT

i knew nothing of Dr. Dog, downloaded this record and have been playing it ever since. sticks to you. i've since gotten more Dr. Dog and feel like i must have been living under a rock to miss out on these guys for so long.

user avatar

fantastic album

FurryAligator

I loved old news but this one really steps it up, it has a very strong sentimental tone, Digging it!

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Dr. Dog have been steadily refining their sound since the unexpected success of Easy Beat, and Fate continues that trend. They’ve still got all the right classic rock moves, clever production ideas, and the ragged-but-right vocals and bouncy bass of Toby Leaman and Scott McMicken’s tough guitar and sweet vocals. It sounds much like We All Belong, but this time out there are also some really nice string and horn arrangements and a bit more utilization of studio production. But a nice studio can be a double-edged sword. The songs sound great, but at times it seems that the detail and adornment are more important than the songs (most noticeably on the opener, which is nearly swallowed by backing vocals). The sound effects that link the songs and clumsy tape edits seem a tad forced (as if to replace some of the genuine weirdness on some of Easy Beat), and some of the titles and lyrical themes seem recycled from We All Belong. That being said, Fate is still a thoroughly enjoyable album from a fine band. – Sean Westergaard

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