Dog Problems

Dog Problems
Studio album by The Format
Released	May 19, 2006 (Digital Download) July 11, 2006 (USA) October 25, 2006 (Japan) July 27, 2007 (Germany)
Recorded	The Bank Burbank, CA
Genre	Indie pop
Length	47:16
Label	The Vanity Label (USA) Imperial Records (Japan)
Producer	Steven McDonald
The Format chronology
Live from the Living Room: Volume One (EP) (2006) Dog Problems (2006) And Now I Hope You're Alright - Live in California (EP) (2006)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk.net	(95%) [1]
Allmusic	[2]
Alternative Press	[3]
The A.V. Club	B+ [4]
IGN	(8.9/10) [5]
Spin
Sputnikmusic	[6]
PopMatters	(7/10) [7]

Dog Problems is the second album and fourth release by American rock band, The Format. It was released on July 11, 2006, on The Vanity Label, The Format's own record label through their management company, Nettwerk. 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. The album was released in Japan on October 26, 2006, via Imperial Records. To celebrate the year anniversary of the release, the entire album was made available free from June 25 to July 15, 2007.

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)

The Vanity Label

The Vanity Label is an imprint of Nettwerk, The Format's management company, which is owned and operated by Sam Means and Nate Ruess. Releasing Dog Problems through their own label allowed the band complete creative control, while still offering them national distribution through Sony BMG. The Format has also released a 7" single for the song "Time Bomb" and an iTunes exclusive And Now I Hope You're All Right – Live in California – EP on The Vanity Label. The album is yet to be released in the UK.

Singles

• "The Compromise"
• "Dog Problems"
• "She Doesn't Get It"

The first single from Dog Problems was "The Compromise", which was ironically written as a response to Atlantic Records asking The Format to write a "hit single" prior to dropping them. The single was selected by popular vote, via a poll on The Format's website. 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 18 August 2006 on vinyl, coinciding with the band's tour of the UK supporting The All-American Rejects.

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"

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