At first it was the voices that drew me in. Amanda Barrett and Abby DeWald remind me of The Roches. Maybe with slightly less harmonic weirdness. Both of their voices also remind me of the great and underappreciated Deborah Holland. Mix in a little of Suzanne Vega's understated sexiness and, well, there's somethin' going on here.
As if the disturbingly beautiful vocals weren't enough, the lyrics also cast their spell. The opening "Walk or Ride" (a song that may or may not be about making the right choices while living this life) starts off innocently enough:
- With just one kiss you could change the world
It might not be much better but it certainly wouldn't hurt
You can say that the third verse gets a little weird with:
- I saw an educated girl give her hair a twirl
And contemplate the meaning of a man with just one arm
You can also say things turn a little David Lynchian in the final verse:
- You might find the meaning of life in the barrel of a rifle
If it's pointed at a bird or it's pointed at your head
The music itself ranges from fairly simple girls-with-acoustic guitars to roaring 20's shuffles ("Sister Kate"). A whole pile of extra instruments make appearances including piano, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, dulcimer, violin and trombone.
This music is exactly the kind of thing I like to refer to when I hear complaints about how there's "nothing good out there". This stuff is beyond good, and it borders on criminal that The Ditty Bops have not caught on yet.
Now, of course, I won't be able to listen to The Ditty Bops without thinking of those few bittersweet weeks of old house memories. But that's OK. Music can serve many functions. Helping people through some tough times is certainly a noble enough cause.
(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)
Article comments
1 - Carlo Wolff
The Ditty Bops struck a chord with me, too. It's little wonder they haven't resonated commercially; too weird, too creepy (my girls, 9 and 12, like the album but are scared of it), too off.
That's why I like it; strangeness these days is oddly reassuring, particularly considering the groupthink that dominates the record industry. This is the kind of album Warner Bros. used to release routinely. It's heartening that it slipped through the cracks to stimulate and entertain us.
2 - Mark Saleski
yea, i dunno why it hasn't caught on. maybe it just doesn't fit into any of the current radio demographics.
too quirky maybe?
3 - Temple Stark
Mark,
Quirky girls are my aural thing.
This is up at Advance.net
Click here.
Let the artist / record company know, perhaps?
- Temple
4 - jmv
I just saw them at Largo in LA, and if you think their album is great, then the live performance will blow your mind.
They even had a puppeteer for a couple of songs!
Just amazing!
5 - Mark Saleski
good for you. i'm jealous.
now tell me you got to see Jon Brion at Largo and i'm gonna cry...
6 - Koganuts
FWIW, The Ditty Bops will be appearing on the New Year's Eve edition of "Late Night With Conan O'Brien." Hopefully with that appearance they'll finally start to get noticed!
7 - Anna
Quite honestly, I am glad that The Ditty Bops have not yet made it onto mainstream radio waves...I think part of the duo's charm is due to the fact that they are not mainstream...Many independent bands (yes I know The Ditty Bops are not necessarily what one would call "indie," but they're close) who have gotten "discovered" went on to have their musical edges filed down. Yep, these girls are much better off remaining slightly left of center. Great music.