Artist The Dodos

Meric Long and Logan Kroeber—the men behind The Dodos—write arty folk tunes that eschew easy virtuosity and excessive influence-dropping in favor of clear, compelling storytelling and skewed style. After dialing back their percussive attack in favor of orchestral flourishes on 2009’s Time To Die, Long and Kroeber seemingly built the entirety of this year’s No Color around fitful bursts of cymbal, clattering rim clicks, and the well-timed clanging of acoustic guitars. The result is a more forceful record than Time To Die, accented further by beguiling background vocals from Neko Case.     

Updated 05/24/2011