While the immensely impatient side of me appreciates that NPR offers pre-release streams of albums from some of my favorite artists, the availability of these tracks in a way removes some of their excitement. When I first listen to something new, I like to walk around, ride the subway, or sit in my backyard. By listening to them in this way, they become a part of my routine and ingrained into my life. Being out in the world and listening to music always makes it seem more real and relatable. Particularly in New York, though, relying on a 3G connection to seamlessly move from track to track can be frustrating and at times not even worth the trouble.

Despite my aversion, when I heard that The Dodos (@thedodos) were streaming No Color, my interest was peaked. After hearing the leaked track, “Don’t Stop”, I was more than excited to grab the rest of the album. Riddled with the same distinctive, manic guitar picking, tone shifts, and organic vocals, the full set of songs more than meets the high expectations set by the first track.

“Going Under”, in particular, offers incredible melodies and quick changes in percussion, making it my favorite song on the album. The transitions from verse to chorus and back are dynamic to say the least, and at over six minutes in length, the song offers a substantial bridge that incorporates loud, buzzing guitars mixed with flashes of gentle acoustic. Not a moment of this song is trite or could be anticipated on the first listen. Much like the rest of the songs on No Color, it juts off into directions and takes paths that are unexpected and unconventional.

The majority of the songs on the album maintain an upbeat sense without losing the ability to force introspection. Given that the tracks are relatively raw in their production, and each screams with genuine tones and drumbeats, it’s easy to sense that the songs are born from a very real place. Lyrics such as “I cannot sleep / I cannot think / I cannot dream” repeated in “Sleep” offer a contrast to the vigorous rhythm of the instrumentation. As I said before, few things on this album meet with convention.

At the base of each song is a striking ability to craft acoustic riffs that are unique to each other and lack the tendency of this genre to continuously run together. Listening to No Color in its entirety is an easy task and one that reveals new intricacies and layers with each turn. The Dodos are easily one of my top picks for SXSW, and I’m counting down the days and hours till I see them live!

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