I'm going to begin this post wondering why I am even beginning this post (does that make sense?), since I'd rather that nobody else knew about the indie music I am enjoying and about which I am planning to write. Furthermore, I will respectfully request of all you loyal readers that you do not tell anyone about the indie music I am writing about, since I'd prefer to continue to listen to it, and if everybody knows about it it becomes uncool, I will be forced to delete it from my iTunes, and therefore will no longer be able to enjoy it (but I wouldn't enjoy it anyway, at that point, because it would be uncool).
iTunes tells me that the genre of Dr. Dog's album entitled "Fate" is "indie". I try not to pay too much attention to the genre of a specific group - I prefer to listen to music that I truly like. However, as we all know, I'm a pretty indie guy so I think that the simple fact I am now listening to this "indie" album helps with the personal image that I am trying to project to the world. I'll probably end up playing this album on my radio show, wearing my Waldo glasses everywhere, and feeling elite about this music (and other stuff that nobody else knows about).
But, let me tell you, their album "Fate" is currently just about the only thing I'm listening to. It's a really enjoyable album, and I would recommend it to anyone that has any interest in any type of music at all (but only if you can truly appreciate it, and if you won't tell anyone else so it stays cool).
The album starts with a delightfully mellow song "The Breeze", where Dr. Dog ponders the movement of time, asking the listener if we think we're moving too fast, or if we're stuck in time. Then, Dr. Dog encourages us to make a snow angel and freeze. Maybe that's the solution to controlling time. Snow angels. Finally, Dr. Dog gets quite deep and recognizes that, in the end, it's the breeze. And the breeze, ahh, it will blow us all away. This song ponders a lot; time, renewal, weather patterns, and eventually (I believe) death and the afterlife. I see "the breeze" as a clear metaphor of somehow moving on.
In the second track on "Fate", called "Hang On", Dr. Dog grapples with some identity issues that he himself is feeling. This is a common indie theme, but he examines it from a new perspective. He tells us he is not a stranger, and that we both get it wrong. It is unclear whether "we" refers to the listener and the Dr., or another unknown subject. But after this, Dr. Dog explains that he needs his heart mended, but in doing so, he belittles his own profession by explaining that he "don't need no doctor to tear [him] all apart" but rather just needs "you, to mend his heart". Again, who "you" is is rather unclear: listener? unknown subject? It's up for interpretation. Lastly, Dr. Dog once again weaves the subject of varying weather patterns into this track, mentioning how our unknown subject (or the listener, "you"?) thought that a hurricane was just the "rustling of the wind". Maybe we need a now-discredited Dr. to examine "your" nervous system? Are "you" feeling numb, and unable to differentiate between varying degrees of wind speed?
Perhaps the best song on the album is the third track, entitled (quite nostalgically), "The Old Days". This song is catchy, has a lot of repetition, longs for the old days, and does not mention any weather patterns in the lyrics. I find all of this rather refreshing, like a breeze or the rustling of the wind (but not a hurricane). The Dr. gets rather prophetic in this song, telling us that "down down down, the moon's going to fall down, thump thump thump, the house is going to fall down", and therefore we must go "back back back, back to the old days". Finally, as we go back to the old days, we must "wrap up the money, and save it for a sunny day day day". We are strongly encouraged to both save money with an eye toward the future, but at the same time go back back back to the old days. Once again, the theme of the speed of time, and even time-travel, is explored in this epic tune (and it's only the third track!). There are 8 more!
As the album continues, Dr. Dog wrestles with a variety of themes, conquering them all in his own unique, doctorly way. The sixth track, "The Ark" is evidence of a valiant attempt by Dr. Dog to tackle weather patterns (again!), war, love, religion, and human existence as a whole. All of these themes are discussed with the back of a rather chill guitar riff that helps the listener to understand these heavy, heavy themes. After explaining his how he built an ark and rain didn't come, how he built a gun but was unsure about war, how he tried to give more to his love but made her poor, he finally asks the question "what does it mean to be here?". I can't answer that, but he repeatedly tries, telling us "well, I know, because I can and I will". However inspiring this lyric is, it still doesn't really tell us what it means to "be here". But maybe that implied uncertainty is the essence of what he's getting at.
The second-to-last track, "The Beach" discusses weather patterns (again!), alcoholism, fate, marijuana, and memories. This is some heavy-hitting shit; the ominous and dark guitar that plays in the background as the Dr. examines these themes makes them seem ever more serious. It works quite well. With each successive verse, the Dr. explains a situation, such as running aground in a beach during a rainstorm as rain pours through the roof of a boat (how terrible), and then explains how "fate has a funny way of coming around". It's all deep, as previously recognized, but the Dr. does a good job of linking the themes and creating a bold and profound, yet easily enjoyed, track.
Overall, the album exemplifies the versatility of both Dr. Dog, but also the indie genre as a whole. I would highly recommend this album to anybody (but don't tell anybody else!).
Alright, I'm off to take photos of my feet and strum my guitar before I hop on my fixed-gear to go buy a new (old?) sweater at the vintage clothing store.
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