Ditty Bops

The Ditty Bops | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 26, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B00063MCKW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,150 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As charming as the McGarrigle Sisters and pulsating as a scaled-down Lucious Jackson, Los Angeles duo The Ditty Bops call upon a 20th century grab bag of musical trends for the dozen songs that make up their eccentric debut album. Abby DeWald (vocals, acoustic guitar) and Amanda Barrett (vocals, mandolin, dulcimer) employ their effortless harmonies as instruments as they sashay through an influential spectrum that spans Bix Beiderbecke’s swinging twenties, through the Hot Club Quintet of France by way of Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys, and into the contemporary experimentation of producer Mitchell Froom (Elvis Costello, Suzanne Vega). The lyrics may never garner a Walt Whitman prize ("Why does blood turn brown when it dries?" and "Why can’t white people play the blues?" the Bops wonder in "Wishful Thinking"), but they do offer the perfect, sing-a-long complement for the twosome’s intoxicating, foot-tapping melodies. Give the record three spins. You’ll know every song. --Scott Holter

Product Description

When Mitchell Froom (Suzanne Vega, Crowded House, Elvis Costello) produces a debut album, it is well worth taking notice. Thanks to their strangely beautiful voices, magnetic personalities, brilliant playing,bizarre storytelling and stunningly diverse range,The Ditty Bops —the duo of Amanda Barrett and Abby DeWald —earned his attention. A musical celebration embracing everything from contemporary folk pop to ragtime to musical theater, their self-titled debut is as gloriously unique as their name.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ditty bop, July 12, 2005

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ditty Bops (Audio CD)

Sometimes in the musical world, it seems like innovation is dead and new musical sounds are impossible. That all we'll ever get is endless regurgitation of past musical glories.

Then we hear a band like the Ditty Bops.

The quirky duo's debut album is a playful, whimsical collection of offbeat pop-folk, with an edge of carnival cuteness. This is an album where a bluesy melody can suddenly be broken by a strange merry-go-round sound, and where harmonies are the rule. In other words, all rules go out the window.

At their core, most of these are just acoustic guitar pop. Acoustic with a twist: some are catchy, some are bluesy, folky, country, and even alt-rocky in the banjo-laden rocker "There's A Girl." Surprisingly, all of these different styles fit together almost seamlessly.

But the guitar pop is not the main thing that makes the Ditty Bops charming. Actually, they would be fairly boring if it weren't... well, dressed up a little. What gives their songs an element of charm is the offbeat songwriting and the odd music -- they have everything from keyboard washes to dulcimer, mandolin to trombone and banjo.

And yet, the most charming aspect of the Ditty Bops is the old-fashioned vibe. Maybe it's the vocal harmonies, or the folky melodies. But the album has the sound of a long-lost folk-pop album that got buried, and only recently was dug up and released. Yes, even with songs about dried blood, marital murder, modern soullessness, and a "mechanical lady with her garden hose waters the cement."

Abby DeWald and Amanda Barrett both do vocal duty. At the same time. Yes, they manage to harmonize on every single song, on virtually every note. They sound refreshingly sweet, no matter how strange their songs are. "But me, I'd rather plant a tree/that grows up tall for all to see/until I need a pencil/then I'll chop it to the ground."

The Ditty Bops manage to be charming, cute, edgy and funny -- all on the same album. Definitely a memorable and fun debut.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just plain damn fun, November 15, 2004

By 

Steven R. Lafleur "Syd Goldtooth" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ditty Bops (Audio CD)

If you are a fan of The Roches or Kate & Anne McGarrigle, you will love these gals. I've seen others compare them to old style jazz or some other retro movement (whatever!) . I feel that this is just good, clean sounding pop, with wonderful harmonies. This winter, when you have a day that looks like it might be the beginning of Spring, pop in this disc, roll down the windows, stick a smile on your face and turn up the jams. (In fact, this disc might just make the Sun come out).

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Stop Listening, July 25, 2006

By 

Blackberry (Up a Tree or on a Bike) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ditty Bops (Audio CD)

I got both of their CDs the other day and I can't stop listening. They're edgy and innocent, sweet and sophisticated. And their lyrics turn me inside out. What's more, the Ditty Bops are on a concert tour--and traveling by bicycle.