Looking at the cover of Visiter for the first time, you might think this band is just a bunch of wanna-be-rockstar dodos who can't even spell. But, as the old saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover -- or in this case, do, once you know what it's all about.

It's about a San Francisco duo of indie/folk rock fanatics, The Dodos -- who chose the name and face of their second record after rehearsing their tour in front of a high school special education class on the California coast. A child from the crowd of radiant kids approached lead singer Meric Long and his tambourine-tapping sidekick Logan Kroeber, and presented them with the very the album cover for Visiter.

If this softer side isn't enough to win your heart over, then just let the music do it.

Meric, a folk-loving guitar picker, started in 2005 as a solo act (just Dodo Bird then), mixing a West African cross-rhythm flair (he had previously studied Ewe drumming) with a blues-induced acoustic strum. After self-releasing his first EP and hitting up clubs and other venues around the golden coast, he ran into the upbeat, always beating (on a set of heavy metal drums) Logan Kroeber.

Together the two put out another self-released album, but in 2008 they hit it big after signing with Frenchkiss Records, and put out Visiter. The result? A combination of arrestingly adorable twang and culturally-inspired syncopation. Meric puts out a seductive, Johnny Cash-like cantor meshed with a Beatles power pop magnet, and Kroeber brings his own contagious, ever-changing beat to the mix.

Overall, Visiter revisits the seemingly extinct sound of country rock, centered around a driving drum line, and leaving us exhausted by the energy but euphoric from the fun.

Featured Tracks:
Joe's Waltz
Park Song