The Dodos are, by some definition, a MySpace band, one of those acts that came about because of a fan-base primed by the website no one uses anymore. That sounds like a dig until you remember that Arctic Monkeys were a MySpace band for all intents and purposes. After a couple of years away, The Dodos are back with a new record. Grizzly Peak drops on Polyvinyl this Friday, and it's a fairly engaging affair.
At their best here, like on the propulsive "Pale Horizon", the two members of The Dodos work up a head of steam that recalls the best numbers from The Futureheads. There's something beefy about a lot of this, even if the trappings are decidedly indie. It's a case of The Dodos aiming higher than you'd expect, I think. Elsewhere, "The Atlantic" overstays its welcome a bit, while "Eyes Open", a highlight here, adds in enough complexity to suggest that this band has been listening to Nineties post-rock. It's accessible, but still there's something compelling on this one. Lots of this record is just as good, and when The Dodos keep the pace slightly frantic, things are pretty decent on this Grizzly Peak.
Grizzly Peak is out on Friday via Polyvinyl.
[Photo: Polyvinyl]