Dr. Dog Albums Ranked From Lesser To Greater (LIST)

Over two decades and eleven studio albums in Philadelphia’s genreless darlings, Dr. Dog has composed an expansive discography. What started as an experimental folk-pop outfit in 2002 has evolved into an all-encompassing rock giant that grows with each release while continually implementing lessons learned. Dr. Dog’s self-titled effort, their eleventh LP and first in six years, is set to be released Friday, July 19. The journey to get to this record was not an easy one for Dr. Dog, who formed over a bond shared by guitarist Scott McMicken and bassist Toby Leaman after the two began playing together in the eighth grade. Dr. Dog began to form as a side project for McMicken and Leaman, who were attending college at West Chester University at the time. 

This “side project” quickly took over their lives as they began to gain recognition from critics and fellow musicians alike. Dr. Dog’s star promptly rose after a copy of their debut album, Toothbrush, reached the hands of Jim James from My Morning Jacket. The band invited Dr. Dog out on the road for two tours, which placed the young hopefuls in front of adoring fans and critics alike. The tour drew attention to the band’s sophomore effort, Easy Beat, which was praised in the New York Times. The fairytale story continues as Dr. Dog is picked up by Park the Van Records, which released several of Dr. Dog’s albums before the band moved to ANTI Records in 2009. 

With a discography that defies classification, a few close disbandments, and a couple of years of hiatus, Dr. Dog is back. Their new self-titled effort is appropriately named as it attempts to sum up the band’s sonic journey while showcasing some of the band’s most vulnerable songwriting. Before cracking up their new album, Glide ranked all 11 of Dr. Dog’s studio albums. You can check out our list below. 

11. The Psychedelic Swamp

Released: February 5, 2016

This is the Dr. Dog album for fans who felt the band was missing that experimental edge all those years. The Psychedelic Swamp was initially recorded in 2001 and intended to be the band’s debut album. The album was repackaged and released in 2016 under the watchful eye of producer Nathan Sabatino and the band. You can hear the remnants of Toothbrush in these songs, although this album positions the young band in a different light. Sure, their passion for warping vocals and expansive arrangements is there on both Toothbrush and The Psychedelic Swamp, but the latter is missing the rugged edges that took their official debut to the next level. While this re-release plays it a little safe, moments like “In Love” and “Bring My Baby Back” still show early signs of Dr. Dog’s future psychedelic pop endeavors. 

10. Toothbrush

Released: 2002

The self-released debut effort from Dr. Dog saw the band introduce us to the lo-fi folk, pop-tinged sonics that would evolve throughout their career. The rough mixes and rugged guitar tones give these songs an undeniable rawness, while the vocal performances awaken the ghost of pop’s past. Toothbrush could be placed next to the eerie yet stunning work of R. Stevie Moore or Daniel Johnston thanks to its at-home-recording techniques. The songwriting here is straightforward yet experimental. The warmth of the lo-fi fuzz makes every last note on Toothbrush feel otherworldly yet quaint. 

9. We All Belong

Released: February 27, 2007

Dr. Dog’s third effort saw the band break into critics’ hearts with its soaring harmonies and sprawling arrangements. The album saw the band switch to a 24-track tape deck rather than the eight-track tapes used on their previous albums. We All Belong completed Dr. Dog’s character arc from lo-fi hopefuls to a full-blown psych-pop-rock outfit with limitless potential. Dr. Dog began bringing in outside musicians to add horns and strings to their pop concoctions, adding another layer of inviting warmth to their welcoming recordings. 

8. Easy Beat 

Released: March 15, 2005 

While far less experimental, Dr. Dog’s sophomore effort positioned the band as more than their straight-to-tape recordings. The fog is cleared as the band delivers potent examples of their love for psychedelic rock while showcasing their growth as songwriters. From the album’s opener, “The World May Never Know,” the band has more trust in their ideas. This newfound freedom made their songs sound more rounded as they leaned into traditional structures. At the same time, the expansive guitar work of Scott McMicken and Andrew Jones held on to that classic Dr. Dog psychedelia. 

7. Fate

Released: July 22, 2008 

The fourth album from Dr. Dog saw the band leaning even more into traditional standards to create their all-American indie rock LP. The band seemingly explores the roots of American music with nods to waltz-style melodies (“Army of Ancients”) and stirring folk ballads (“From”). The songwriting is honed and well-crafted, another example of Dr. Dog’s growth from one album to the next. While Fate has Dr. Dog ditching the experimental nature of their past recordings, these 11 songs prove that the band can write nostalgic rock standards while staying in the moment. 

6. B-Room 

Released: October 1, 2013

B-Room is an amalgamation of loose ideas strung together by veteran musicians to make the lofty feel like home. This album shows a band’s range that never finds solace in one sound. On paper, the slow-burning acoustics of “Too Weak to Ramble” should not fit next to the twangy two-stepper “Phenomenon,” but therein lies the magic of B-Room. Producer Nathan Sabatino helped push Dr. Dog back into experimental waters. The band pieced together B-Room like a collage with off-kilter cuts pasted over by moments of explosive folk-rock.

5. Abandoned Mansion 

Released: November 29, 2016

Released initially on Bandcamp with all the proceeds from the album going directly to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Abandoned Mansion is a criminally underrated Dr. Dog release. This album is what it would sound like if the band wasn’t composed of daring musicians with unwavering trust in each other. Abandoned Mansion ranks so high in their discography because of how intimate these songs come across. The band employed a level of innocence that propels these ten sweeping examples of Dr. Dog’s ability to craft commercial-leaning records without sacrificing the nuances of their creativity. 

4. Critical Equation 

Released: April 27, 2018

Around the time of Critical Equation, Dr. Dog was falling apart. The band was coming off a hiatus that saw members move across the country and begin to make music separately. In an interview with Relix, drummer Erick Slick talked about how the band nearly ended before making this record. Slick put it simply, “We were either going to break up or make our best record.” Critical Equation saw the band dive head-first into classic rock, replacing the intimacy of folk with power ballads and larger-than-life arrangements. The psychedelia is still more than present, but Critical Equation feels like the band reached a new level of community after their near-disbandment as they create one of the most focused efforts of their career. 

3. Dr. Dog

Releases: July 19, 2024

The latest chapter in the Dr. Dog story comes in the form of an emotional turmoil set to a sprawling range of familiar folksy indie rock. The band’s new self-titled effort is their first release in six years and has the band blurring the lines between their many genre leaps. The album has the band bouncing from sleek guitar-driven anthems to soul-touching minimalism, all strung together by the emotional songwriting. To call Dr. Dog a return to form would not do justice to this sonic middle ground the band found themselves in. By combining the simplest nuances of their discography and placing them under a microscope, you get a layered listen brimming with poetic songwriting. 

2. Shame, Shame

Released: April 6, 2010

Shame, Shame caught Dr. Dog at an interesting time in their career. After years on Park the Van, the band had just signed to Anti-Records. They were coming off a major tour, and the feeling of being on a breakthrough loomed over them. The result of all these moving parts is some of the most vulnerable songwriting and moving musicianship in the band’s discography. While previous releases saw the band expanding their lineup to outside artists, Shame, Shame saw the band return to their roots while continuing their deep dive into the depths of indie rock. If their first few albums introduced us to Dr. Dog, the artists Shame, Shame introduced us to the people behind the music. This brutally honest exploration into the world around Dr. Dog as they strip down to the essentials for a touching collection of songs. 

1. Be The Void 

Released: February 7, 2012

Dr. Dog’s Be The Void is a subtle return to form after spending years toying with their sound. There is something inherently comforting about Be The Void. After the emotional onslaught of Shame, Shame, the nuanced youthful energy of these songs makes it feel like the band is finally unclenching their jaws and dropping their shoulders for bright folk-rock. Be The Void has the band yet again changing their approach to songwriting, all while crafting infectious melodies and triumphant arrangements with Dr. Dog leaning into their folksy side.