The psych pop heroes that brought you a revamped version of Architecture in Helsinki’s “Heart it Races” are back with their most epic album yet, The Pyschedelic Swamp. According to frontmen Toby Leaman and Scott McMicken, Dr. Dog has been gearing up for this release for 15 years.
Back in 2001, McMicken, Leaman, and Doug O’Donnell, who left in 2004, were writing songs for an album called Psychedelic Swamp. These songs were used as a debut album, followed by Toothbrush later on when the band started touring. But the swamp concept stuck with the band members and has finally come to fruition for an early February release.
The lore behind the album, according to Dr. Dog’s interview with The Bulletin, is that there is a man called Phrases who sent the band members this tape. Phrases has been stuck in a swamp for so long that it has debilitated his communication skills, and Dr. Dog has been touring and working to get enough money in order to translate Phrases’ tape and circulate his words.
The wait has been no disappointment. Although Dr. Dog has polished its lo-fi sound typical of their early years, it stays true to the soulful and warm vibes that made it possible for the band to play shows outside of their hometown, Philly. They use the same kind of long-winded, flowery lyrics that Joni Mitchell was famous for, only now in the psychedelic computer age.
The two singles released early are “Bring My Baby Back” and “Badvertise” which do a good job of demonstrating the spectrum of Dr. Dog’s music. The dark, heady haunting melodies of Scott McMicken on “Badvertise” and the earnest, folky voice of “Toby Leaman” begging you to “Bring My Baby Back” are both essential to the Dr. Dog realm. I have included the link to the first listen of “The Psychedelic Swamp” on NPR here, because I love you all, and yes you’re welcome.
A few of the songs were taken right from the band’s debut album but re-recorded, with O’Donnell returning to help flesh out the rest for this release. “Golden Hind” is a perfect earthy opener for this album, while “In Love” and “Swamp is On” are perhaps my two favorite slow, reflective songs Dr. Dog has released since Shame, Shame’s “Where’d all the Time Go”.
The album comes out forreal February 5th via ANTI- records. As an avid fan, knowing this album has been coming for 15 years, I wonder if this spells the epic end of Dr. Dog. Perhaps it is, but I really fucking hope not.
