Modern Minstrels

Dog Problems

Summer's here! Or it might as well be, because Dog Problems by The Format is available in digital form right here (it hits stores July 11). Dog Problems is that one album that can just carry you through a summer. Whether you need an album to blast in your car, or to listen to on your iPod while you're taking a walk, or just need some background music while you're sitting on your porch sipping a nice cold beverage: Dog Problems is your album.

Every single song on the album is catchy in its own way. You've got the opening track Matches in 3/4 time, and horns in the title title track and Inches and Failing, and just plain catchy riffs in Time Bomb and The Compromise and of course the simply irresistible song Snails. And with all these catchy beats you also get wonderful lyrics:

Snails see the benefits, the beauty in every inch
- Snails

Love is speaking in code
it's an inside joke
Love is coming home
- If Work Permits

I can feel your feet touching mine
If you can't dance, there's someone else in line
So meet me in the middle
Well come on let's make up a dance
and we'll agree to call it the compromise
- The Compromise

I love love, I love being in love, I don't care what it does to me
- Inches and Failing

I'm standing in a room,
It's filled with older folks pleading "baby listen"
And I scream as loud as anyone,
but when asked to make a point I tend to whisper
- If Work Permits

After my first few listens my initial favorite tracks are Snails, Dog Problems, The Compromise, If Work Permits, and Time Bomb. Hmm, I better stop with just 5 songs, lest I just end up listing every song on the album.

My fanboy ramblings cannot do the album justice, but lucky for you, there are several tracks available for free download. You can grab The Compromise over on AP.net and She Doesn't Get It on the band's MySpace page. I also recommend you go stream some of their older stuff on Pure Volume (specificallly The First Single and the acoustic version of Snails). Then when you're hooked go ahead and purchase the full album here. Your summer won't be complete until you do. While you're at it I also highly recommend you pickup their 2003 debut full length Interventions and Lullabies.