Dr. Dog - Takers and Leavers

Genre rock Publisher Park the Van Records External Links Official Dr. Dog Website Official Park the Van Website

Speaking of context, the Internet is awesome and everything, but it does not beat having a live band get so into the music that their sweat flies into your eyes. (Lemme tell you, though, if there is a fluid simulation function of that nature in progress, you can bet that the porn industry will reap the benefits before the indie rockers.) Such is the case with the woozy, vertiginous barrelhouse rock of Philly five-piece Dr. Dog.

This six-song EP provides the perfect introduction to the Dr. Dog experience. Takers and Leavers is clearly the sound of a group of friends first and musicians second. Their sound is uncategorizable like the best 70s AM radio. There's a little psychedelia, a little blues in the vocals of Toby Leaman, a little folk, and whatever else catches the band's fancy. The epic ruefulness of "Die, Die, Die" gives way to the campfire folk of "California," which in turn segues unexpectedly into the organ-driven closer "Livin' A Dream". This is what The Walkmen's ill-advised re-recording of Harry Nilsson's Pussy Cats should have sounded like - immediate, boozily enjoyable, yet layered and complicated. And make no mistake - for a band that comes across as a bunch of duuudes, this is intensely complicated music, unfettered by ideas of genre or form. I have to say that I didn't like Takers and Leavers at first precisely because of their subtlety (I have kind of a short attention span). Then I saw them live, and after witnessing their rapport with the audience (most of whom left after openers Cold War Kids) and how they infused the saddest songs with wry humor and the most upbeat songs with a gentle poignancy, I had a rethink. I'm glad I did. Nothing can replace a live show, but Takers and Leavers sure comes close.