Artist:   Dr. Dog
Song:   "100 Years"
Album: Fate
Label:   Park the Van
Year:    2008

A band that takes to the past to find inspiration but is not content to live there are the ones to keep your ears on. West Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog dips down into the deep well of acoustic music, three-part harmonies, slightly askew chord patterns and plain old oddness to come up with something new. “100 Years” starts with standup bass, sloppy snares and ringing tack piano. It’s the lead singer that really hits home with the way he sounds like he could be walking to the gallows with a heart full of crazy hope. As the song builds, miracles being to seem possible, a vocal arrangement spritely enough to be from a Volkswagen commercial springs to life and flowers almost sprout out of the speakers. There is an unmistakable funky freshness to Dr. Dog, and even if the big broom of modern cultural definition tries to sweep them into the jam band scene, don’t believe it. They’ve got more in cahoots with The Band than anyone playing now, and also sound like they’ve got the smarts to know it, which is a very good thing. The band’s website also lists the out-of-doors, vegetables and hoagie sandwiches as prime influences. Nice. Young groups taking off in serpentine patterns on their musical trips guarantee we’re all in for an exciting ride. Dr. Dog has the perfect prescription for today’s journey, and though they’ve been at it awhile, Fate feels like they’re really getting there.