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A Joyous 'Trip' from Start to Finish

We All Belong, the new album from the Philadelphia band Dr. Dog, combines classic rock with the sounds of ageless indie-pop. The result is a universal, accessible sound that seems modern while still summoning memories of Todd Rundgren, The Band and The Kinks. Mostly, though, Dr. Dog's captivating pop hooks, three-part harmonies and lush instrumentation lead back to the Beatles, and John Lennon in particular.

That said, it's an unlikely infusion of soul that makes "Worst Trip" so appealing. With a guitar riff that recalls the chunky opening to 100 Proof Aged in Soul's '70s R&B classic "Somebody's Been Sleeping In My Bed," the song packs a lot of action into its three minutes. Stax-style horn breaks pepper the chorus, and toward the song's end, smartly arranged twin guitar solos mix with a cacophonous swirl of brass. Propelled by a catchy, breezily swinging chorus, "Worst Trip" is everything its title doesn't imply: a joyous journey from start to finish.

Listen to yesterday's 'Song of the Day.'

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Bruce Warren is assistant general manager for programming of WXPN in Philadelphia. Besides serving as executive producer of World Café, Warren also contributes to Paste magazine and writes for two blogs: Some Velvet Blog and WXPN's All About The Music Blog.