Rock/Pop - San Francisco's high-strung indie popsters The Dodo's aren't nearly as gloomy as the title of their third album Time To Die (September 15/French Kiss) would suggest. In fact new producer Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, The Shins) doesn't really mess with the band's skittish displays of rhythmic thrust tacked on to some jangley guitar riffs and eminently likable vocals of frontman/founder Meric Long. Working the same drum-centric territory as late period Talking Heads but with an uncluttered efficiency of sound, The Dodos have a basic, relatively sparse formula and then execute it to near perfection. A bit less frantic than last year's Visitor, the music has matured and expanded ever so slightly with producer Ek adding a little padding to the previously sharp elbows.

"I'm glad we were able to keep things simple on this record," says Long. "Because when your band gets a little popular, there's a tendency to say things like 'Let's add an orchestra on this one!' That works for some people would detract from this band." What is new this time around is third member Keaton Snyder on vibraphone -- an instrument that simply, and effectively, adds a new layer of rhythm and melody to songs such as stuttering beat-laden lead single "Fables", the stretched out "Longform" and album opener "Small Deaths."

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