DR. DOG
We All Belong
Park the Van

If dorks had parlors, they would listen to Dr. Dog’s We All Belong in them. Partially, this would be to play rousing games of spot-the-reference, to see who could be the first to pick out the George Harrison guitars on the title track, or the “Sloop John B” response in the chorus of “The Worst Trip.” But, mostly, it would be because Dr. Dog makes exceedingly suave psych-pop (the better for giving the turntable a break). On We All Belong, joyous harmonies tumble atop one another like the Three Stooges. Often, it’s all too much, like on the essentially plaintive “Weekend,” but it’s never anything less than good, clean fun. “My Old Ways” recalls British music hall (now evoking sentiment for three generations!), without ever approaching The Beatles’ hookiness. But that’s okay. If Badfinger successfully gave people their Beatles fix in the early ‘70s, then Dr. Dog can sure-as-Ringo do it now.

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