Favorite Songs of '06 - #15

The Format - "Dog Problems"

This one has to be the best singing-along-at-the-top-of-your-lungs song that I've heard this year, although I should point out that I get some pretty odd looks when I'm rocking out to this in my car.  As the title track of this summer's Dog Problems, this song emphasizes what makes the Format's second record differ from Interventions & Lullabies.  It's theatrical, it's showy, it's fun - and I can see why it might not have gone over well with the band's (former) label.  From the slow opening, to the kicky horn-laden high-stepping verse, to the INCREDIBLY dramatic string-accompanied breakdown, to the spelling, yes the spelling - it's like four kinds of guilty pleasures rolled into just over four minutes of fun.  I'm not sure I'll love this song forever and ever, but I think I'll always enjoy singing it super-loud in my car.