Buy Now
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
-
UncutApr 6, 2012Too often, though, these chant-a-long anthems are too damn chirpy for their own good. [May 2012, p.71]
-
Mar 23, 2012There's not an obvious departure from their last few releases, but there doesn't need to be as the band has settled comfortably into their sound.
-
Mar 5, 2012When they're good, they are glorious and their enthusiasm is infectious, this band thrive when live but perhaps there's a little too much padding filling the, er, void.
-
Feb 23, 2012Dudes may not be your mom's secret recipe for home-made pancakes, but the music is consistent, healthy, and in the right mood, quite delicious.
-
Feb 15, 2012For the most part, it works. But "Warrior Man," a jumbled idea that could've been a great song, is the sort of cautionary tale that keeps this album from matching Shame, Shame's standards.
-
Feb 15, 2012Dr. Dog's best effort yet.
-
Feb 14, 2012With Be the Void, it has become clear that, while they'll probably never make their masterpiece, the strange way they operate is essential to the business of being Dr. Dog.
-
Feb 10, 2012There's enough here to keep fans happy and even win a few more over in the process, but it's another mixed bag from a band that are easier to like than love.
-
Feb 9, 2012Despite the uncommon thread of the vocalists' raspy deliveries on each track, Be The Void never really settles into any sort of discernible pattern.
-
Feb 9, 2012It's their tightest and simultaneously most experimental release.
-
Feb 9, 2012All of the material here is passable, with a few highlights that will surely leave a positive impression on listeners.
-
Feb 9, 2012Too often, Be the Void finds Dr. Dog unleashed, letting their wilder ideas get the better of them.
-
Feb 7, 2012An album that feels looser without ever feeling lazy.
-
Feb 7, 2012That Dr. Dog has written some supremely catchy tunes isn't too surprising, but few would expect its (or any band's) fifth record to be every bit as exciting as its first.
-
Feb 6, 2012Be The Void matches guitarist Scott McMicken's clever lyrics, precise riffs, and quivery vocals to the rare glottal gift and intricate bass work of Toby Leaman in this jumble of freaky throwbacks, reflective ruminations, and spontaneous psychedelic bursts.
-
Feb 6, 2012[Dr. Dog is a] more than capable rock band that puts out reliable, if slightly underwhelming records, and Be The Void doesn't make too strong an argument for the contrary.
-
Feb 3, 2012Be the Void might be the band's least accessible offering yet, but it's certainly their bravest--and given some breathing room, it might just prove their most rewarding.
-
Under The RadarFeb 3, 2012The glossy production [is] a far cry from early lo-fi recordings. It suits them. [#39, p.67]
-
Alternative PressFeb 3, 2012The heartfelt, piano-based "Do The Trick" is among guitarist/vocalist Scott McMicken's most accomplished songs--which can be said for nearly every boot-stomping moment here. [Mar 2012, p.97]
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 13 out of 15
-
Mixed: 2 out of 15
-
Negative: 0 out of 15
-
Jun 30, 2013
-
Nov 5, 2012
-
Apr 26, 2012