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Album Details

• Artist: The Dodos
• Album: No Color
• Label:
• Year of Release: 2011
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: tosnob on 2011-03-18

Let's face it, most folk-based music out there is incredibly boring an predictable. Thankfully, that's not not generally the case with The Dodos and their brand of rootsy folk-pop. The duo return on March 8th with their third full length album, No Color.

The strengths of The Dodos have always been their vocals and the relentless percussion. The melodies are definitely here, as on the catchy "Going Under". The album opener "Black Night" frolics above a propulsive percussion, while "Don't Stop" provides a lovely pitter patter.

These two strengths don't align on every song, but when they do it's almost magical. The best example this time around is "Good", a track where the melodic vocals play atop a tumbling rhythm. The combination is enchanting.

As I said, it doesn't always align however. The plucky "Companions", riveting at first, grows tiresome before too long. Weak vocals on "When Will You Go" get lost in the nebulous arrangement, which itself is not strong enough to carry the song.

This time around The Dodos recruited someone special to provide backing vocals in the form of Neko Case. While providing support on several tracks, she is never in danger of becoming the focal point of the music, which for a Dodos record is a good thing.

No Color won't shock existing fans of The Dodos. It does however, serve as another solid brick in what the band has been building.

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