Customer Reviews

Poi Dog Pondering

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This was the first readily available album from Poi Dog Pondering. The music is from a very talented, eclectic group of minstrels that has since evolved throughout the years. Poi Dog Pondering has always been true, never taking the convenient or easy path. Most of the music here is light-hearted with influences of folk, vaudville, rock, Hawaiian and international rhythms. Much of the album is light and happy--songs of everyday living. "Fact Of Life" is one of my all-time favorites. It is a beautiful poetic ode to life with many musical surprises that echo the suprises that life gives. "Circle Around The Sun" is another favorite. It is in a similar vein as Fact with beautiful unique percussion and philosophy. It too is an inspiration and celebration of life. "Wood Guitar" is a fun, jamming, joyful noise. This album has lifted me up when I need to smile. Buy it.

Released in 1989, this is a combination of a couple of EP's plus some extra stuff. The EP's were recorded for an independent label before the group has a record contract. They were recorded in Hawaii, before the group moved to Austin, Texas. The CD is 44 minutes long and the sound quality is pretty good.

Much of the music is very light, cutesy and "whimsical". Some of it has a Hawaiian twang. To me, about half of the songs are just throw away little ditties. And the CD does sound like what it is, a couple of EP's thrown together. And like most EP's there are a couple of good songs and some inconsequential filler.

The final track, Falling, features an annoying, whining vocal which sounds like Edie Brickell at her worst.

Poi Dog Pondering has a sound much like Rusted Root. After getting a recording contract from Columbia, they moved to Austin, Texas. They released two CD's of much better, more focused music. They disbanded, moved to Chicago, were reformed and changed their musical style to some extent.