A sizzlin’ shame

Dr. Dog’s latest, “Shame, Shame” comes just in time for summer breezes, mimosas on porches and barbecue potlucks. It pretty much sizzles.

The Philly natives, while having a distinctive psychedelic rock/Beach Boys pop sound,  have always been consistently hit and miss. Their last album, “Fate,” made me wonder if their fate was to fade into indie rock purgatory.

“Shame, Shame” works for several reasons – big hooks, clever lyricism, obnoxiously catchy rhythms and otherwise depressing, heart-on-your-sleeve tunes that come off like a rollicking good time.

Also, the album is a labor of love – tracks like the contemplative romp, “Where’d All the Time Go?” is eight years old.

“20 years of schoolin’/ I never learned the math,” croons co-frontman Scott McMicken on the opener, “Stranger.”  

“Shadow People” is spliced with pie in the sky “ahs” and the cry, “Here we go again.”
I don’t know why the album seems like it’s mourning something. There is no shame in a (well-produced) good time, which is exactly what Dr. Dog provides here.