15th March - Dr Dog's Easy Beat

Artist – Album: Dr Dog – Easy Beat

Released:  15^th March 2005         

Sounds Like: Summer’s on its way

It may not be obvious when you look out of your windows to the rain soaked (or even snow covered) streets outside, but March is the month that marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Once or twice I’ve been lucky enough to experience the sun managing to penetrate the otherwise blanket cloud cover of the Manchester skyline, but it’s not long before the weather realises its mistake and quickly closes up the gaps, before glaring at me menacingly with its dark black storm clouds.

No matter, because the music released in March has started to hint at the soon-to-come summer. Whilst we’ve already had Tullycraft’s Beat Surf Fun, The Beach Boy’s Today!, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s Déjà Vu this month, today’s album is another light filled mix of brilliant harmonies and positive major chords.

Dr Dog approach their music in the warm manner that their checked shirts and big bushy beards would suggest – it’s simple, it’s old fashioned and it’s great. High points include ‘The World May Never Know’, ‘The Pretender’, ‘Say Something’ and ‘Wake Up’. Acoustic guitars, pianos and backing vocal ‘do-da-doos’ make up the songs here, and, despite the lo-fi production and live feel to the music, they rarely hit a duff note. And when they do, it doesn’t feel like it matters as you’re blissfully swept along in the sunshine.

Albumaday... rating: 8/10

1.       The World May Never Know – 3:02

2.       The Pretender – 5:31

3.       Oh No – 4:05

4.       Easy Beat – 4:55

5.       Dutchman Falls – 4:12

6.       Fools Life – 2:26

7.       Say Something – 5:38

8.       Today – 3:23

9.       Wake Up – 4:40

Listen to ‘Say Something’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7KnTeiNC8Y

Also released on the 15^th March:

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