As a young boy sitting on my father’s knee, I vividly remember the eye-catching album art gracing old dust jackets containing the likes of such artists as the Beach Boys or the Beatles. I would sit transfixed as I watched the record spin on the turntable, paying little mind to my surroundings. I was completely taken in by the warmth and fullness emanating from the pulsating oversized speakers in my comfortable living room. As I put in the new Dr. Dog album into my MacBook, I was no longer concerned with the tiny speakers and the poor acoustics of my dorm room. I was immediately transported back to the days of old sitting on my father’s knee, listening to the twang of a well designed guitar riff and the paper thin vocals that I used love as a youngster.

Hailing from Philadelphia Pennsylvania, this psychedelic rock band has got what it takes to rock your face off in many a myriad of different ways. Psychedelic rock is one of those fluffy genres which no one quite knows how to explain. The best way Dr. Dog can be explained is that he lives on the corner of folk and alternative rock. Its versatile sound and flare for well-placed instrumentation makes Fate one of the band’s best albums ever, and arguably, one of the best albums of the year. The album lazily jumps from one track to another with a style that displays their talent and versatility quite brilliantly. Dr. Dog’s minimalist lyrics and clever rhymes compliment the band’s melodies and blend into the members’ skillful instrumentation so well that they merge seamlessly into one glorious sound. The amount of energy that they inject into this album makes the songs practically come to life. It is sometimes difficult to remember that it’s a recording and not a live performance. Go buy this album — you won’t regret the buy.