Don’t let the name of the band nor misspellings fool you; this is an album of smart pop music. Helmed by San Francisco-based singer/songwriter/acoustic guitar whiz Merc Long, the former one man band Dodobird has taken aboard an extraordinary percussionist - Logan Kroeber. The result is a collection that melds traditional American folk and world-beat that is both accessible and enduring. Long and Kroeber are on equal footing, complimenting each other by way of intertwining percussive passages, playful melodies, sinewy guitar motifs, and surrealistic sound effects that appear to be organic and decidedly out of left-field. “Joe’s Waltz” commences as an unassuming three-to-the-bar pathos laden ballad until Long renders slightly out of tune arpeggios - probing Kroeber to respond with a maniacal double-time drum tirade. Syd Barrett (and Robyn Hitchcock) fans will appreciate the bizarre bravado of “It’s That Time Again” in which Long warbles his tale of broken love as Krober bashes a bass drum every two measures whilst a trombone player solos in the background. “Jodi” qualifies as a rocker as both Dodos adhere to a relentless back-beat and chugging harmonies. Wonder where the future of folk pop his headed? Check out this Visiter.
--Tom Semioli [March 28, 2008]
