Dog Problems

Dog Problems
Studio album by The Format
Released	May 19, 2006 (digital) July 11, 2006 (physical)
Studio	The Bank, Burbank, CA
Genre	Indie pop
Length	47:16
Label	The Vanity Label
Producer	Steven McDonald
The Format chronology
Live from the Living Room: Volume One (2006) Dog Problems (2006) And Now I Hope You're Alright – Live in California (2006)
Singles from Dog Problems
"Time Bomb" Released: August 18, 2006 "She Doesn't Get It" Released: March 6, 2007

Dog Problems is the second and final album by American rock band The Format.

Background

The group supported Motion City Soundtrack from mid March to early April 2006.^[1]

"The Compromise" was ironically written as a response to Atlantic Records asking The Format to write a "hit single" prior to dropping them.

Release

An MP3 version of Dog Problems leaked to the internet almost two months before its official release date. In response, the entire album was immediately made available digitally for only $7.99, through the band's online music store. Dog Problems was released on July 4^[2] on The Vanity Label, The Format's own record label, through their management company, Nettwerk. Releasing Dog Problems through their own label allowed the band complete creative control, while still offering them national distribution through Sony BMG. "The Compromise" was released to radio on July 18, 2006.^[3] In July and August, the band went on a summer tour with support from Rainer Maria and Anathallo.^[2] When asked what the second single would be during an interview with Absolutepunk.net, Nate Ruess responded, "It had better be 'Time Bomb'." "Time Bomb" saw a UK release on August 18, 2006 on vinyl, coinciding with the band's tour of the UK supporting The All-American Rejects.

"Time Bomb" was released to radio on October 17, 2006.^[3] From late October to mid December 2006, the band supported The All-American Rejects on their Tournado 2006 tour.^[4] "She Doesn't Get It" impacted radio on March 6, 2007.^[5] On June 14, the band performed Dog Problems in its entirety the at Mayan Theater in Los Angeles, which was filmed for a potential DVD release. In early July, the album was released as a free download over a two-week period. Ruess explained that the group knew that "kids aren’t buying music. We’re going to see if we can’t pick up 20,000 new sets of ears by offering the album for free."^[6] Following this, the band went on three month headlining tour across the U.S. They were supported on various dates by Mike Birbiglia, Limbeck, Steel Train, Reuben's Accomplice, The Honorary Title, Ollie Wilde and Piebald.^[6]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk.net	(95%) [7]
Allmusic	[8]
Alternative Press	[9]
The A.V. Club	B+ [10]
IGN	(8.9/10) [11]
Spin
Sputnikmusic	[12]
PopMatters	(7/10) [13]

By July 2006, the album had sold over 17,000 copies.^[14]

Track listing

All tracks written by Sam Means and Nate Ruess, except as noted.

1. "Matches" – 2:10
2. "I'm Actual" – 3:47
3. "Time Bomb" – 4:01
4. "She Doesn't Get It" – 3:51
5. "Pick Me Up" – 3:46
6. "Dog Problems" – 4:11
7. "Oceans" – 4:48
8. "Dead End" (Means, Linda Perry, Ruess) – 4:08
9. "Snails" – 4:09
10. "The Compromise" – 3:27
11. "Inches and Falling" – 3:30
12. "If Work Permits" – 5:28

iTunes Exclusive Track

• "The Lottery Song" – 2:28 (Harry Nilsson cover)

Japanese Edition Bonus Track

• "Glutton of Sympathy" (Jellyfish cover)

Personnel

• Steven McDonald – producer
• Ken Sluiter – engineer
• Tom Rothrock – mixer (tracks 1, 4, 6–12)
• Ken Sluiter – mixer (tracks 2, 3, 5)
• Mike Tarantino – mix engineer
• Don Taylor at Precision Mastering – mastering
• John Rummen – art direction
• Sam Means – art
• Alex Fuller - advertising

Musicians

• Sam Means – piano, keyboards, guitars, "other fun instruments we had laying around"
• Nate Ruess – vocals, "a grain of synth"

"Matches" Joey Waronker – percussion "I'm Actual" Josh Klinghoffer – guitar Roger Manning Jr. – orchestral arrangement John O'Riley – drums, percussion Don Raymond Jr. – bass guitar Anna Waronker – vocals, vocal arrangements "Time Bomb" Josh Klinghoffer – guitar Roger Manning Jr. – Wurlitzer Steven McDonald – bass guitar John O'Riley – drums, percussion Anna Waronker – vocals, vocal arrangements "She Doesn't Get It" John O'Riley – drums, percussion Don Raymond Jr. – bass guitar Mike Schey – guitar "Pick Me Up" John O'Riley – drums, percussion Don Raymond Jr. – bass guitar Mike Schey – guitar, slide guitar Aaron Wendt – Doppler "Dog Problems" The Hobocamp Choir – gang vocals Roger Manning Jr. – orchestral arrangement Steven McDonald – bass guitar John O'Riley – drums, percussion "Oceans" The Hobocamp Choir – gang vocals, claps Steven McDonald – backup vocals Don Raymond Jr. – bass guitar John O'Riley – drums, percussion Mike Schey – guitar Aaron Wendt – noise

"Dead End" Josh Klinghoffer – guitar Steven McDonald – bass guitar John O'Riley – percussion Anna Waronker – vocals, vocal arrangements Joey Waronker – drums "Snails" Roger Manning Jr. – orchestral arrangement, harpsichord Sean McCall – percussion John O'Riley – drums Don Raymond Jr. – bass guitar Mike Schey – guitar "The Compromise" Steven McDonald – backup vocals Sean McCall – percussion John O'Riley – drums Don Raymond Jr. – bass guitar Mike Schey – guitar "Inches and Falling" The Hobocamp Choir – gang vocals Sean McCall – percussion Don Raymond Jr. – bass guitar Mike Schey – guitar Joey Waronker – drums "If Work Permits" John O'Riley – drums Don Raymond Jr. – bass guitar Mike Schey – guitar

Additional musicians

• Deborah Avery – clarinet, sax
• Peggy Baldwin – cello
• J'Anna Jacoby – cello
• Randy Jones – tuba
• Johana Krejci – violin
• Paul Loredo – French horn
• Jean Marianelli – French horn
• Rory Mazella – clarinet, sax
• Mike McGuffey – trumpet
• Jim McMillan – trombone
• Kethleen Robertson – violin
• Dave Ryan – trombone
• Roy Wiegand – trumpet
• Adriana Zoppo – viola

References

1. "Motion City Soundtrack announce 2006 tour w/OK Go, more". Alternative Press. December 12, 2005. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
2. "The Format touring with Rainer Maria, Anathallo". Alternative Press. June 8, 2006. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
3. "FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock". Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
4. "All-American Rejects touring w/the Starting Line, Motion City". Alternative Press. September 19, 2006. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
5. "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. February 27, 2007. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
6. "The Format to give away new album; plan tour, live DVD". Alternative Press. June 4, 2007. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
7. AbsolutePunk review
8. Apar, Corey. Dog Problems at AllMusic
9. Alternative Press review
10. The A.V. Club review
11. IGN review
13. PopMatters review
14. Kohli, Rohan (July 26, 2006). "Soundscan Results: Week Ending July 23rd, 2006". absolutepunk.net. Retrieved February 12, 2016.