Review: Dr. Dog, Shame, Shame

Dr. Dog

Shame, Shame

B

Shame, Shame, Dr. Dog’s first album on the Anti- Records label, is not the type of CD that you give a once over and then move on.  Shame, Shame is not your typical one-night stand, entertaining in the moment, interesting enough to tolerate for thirty minutes or so, but still easily abandoned after your brief, albeit amusing, encounter.  It is much more of a long-term commitment that demands a second, third, and even fourth listening to before you can really start to appreciate its complexity and quirky nuances.  It’s what I would call an acquired taste.

Filled with what can only be described as an eclectic mix of tracks, Shame, Shame showcases the band’s unquestionable musical talent.  Starting off with a tambourine in the distance that is shortly accompanied by an exclamation of percussion, “Stranger,” the album-opening track, seems almost like something you would expect to hear while walking into a circus tent.  That is, until the sorrowful lyrics kick in, and the song takes an unexpected turn – something that is relatively customary throughout the album and particularly evident in “Shame, Shame,” their closing track.  From fast-paced, upbeat tunes like, “Unbearable Why” and “Later,” to the more suppressed and melodic “Someday,” it is as if Dr. Dog runs the gamut of genres with this motley assortment.
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Review: Free Energy, Stuck on Nothing

Free Energy

Stuck on Nothing

A+

Refreshingly optimistic and youthfully upbeat, Free Energy’s highly anticipated debut album, Stuck on Nothing, blows listeners out of the water.  The unabashed positivity and all-around simplicity of the album bring a glimmer of sunshine to Indie Rock, a genre that can sometimes feel unaffecting and repetitive.  With a clean, crisp, guitar-centric sound, Free Energy creates a light, carefree mood that makes you want to jump to your feet and dance.  Tracks like their self-titled “Free Energy” and “Bang Pop” draw you into an album that follows a natural progression, making Stuck on Nothing easy listening.  Perfect for driving down the highway, windows rolled down and wind in your hair, Stuck on Nothing holds promise for Free Energy’s future success.

-- Chloe Tanaka

Facts and Tracks, Wed 10-11am and Friday 2-3pm on WGTB

Review: Brooke Waggoner, Go Easy, Little Doves

 Brooke Waggoner

Go Easy Little Doves

A-

 

Flaunting romantically whimsical lyrics set to a backdrop of instrumental genius, Brooke Waggoner’s long-awaited album, Go Easy Little Doves, promises to delight indie pop fans everywhere.  The meditatively symphonic album reflects Waggoner’s classical music background, flowing into a cohesive piece of art that takes you through the 10-year journey that is Go Easy Little Doves.  The melodious, vocal-centric tracks intertwined with beautiful, instrumental interludes meld together to tell this invitingly complex story. Although Waggoner’s eccentric lyricisms and elaborately ornamented ballads keep her just outside the realm of mainstream preference, many songs on the album including “Go Easy Little Doves, I’ll Be Fine” and “Chromates Soft Love” prove to be inoffensive enough to appeal to mass audiences.  Waggoner’s musical talent apparent in Go Easy Little Doves is sure to resonate throughout a wide spectrum of listeners.

-- Chloe Tanaka

Host, "Facts & Tracks" Wed. 10-11am and Fri. 2-3pm on WGTB