The Ditty Bops

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.

The Ditty Bops,The Ditty Bops,Warner Bros / Wea,Indie Pop,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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The Ditty Bops

Average customer rating: just as good as the other one! Great album. This is a must have! over the moon... These chicks are hot!

Moon Over the Freeway The Ditty Bops Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Ditty Bops Yes, Virginia... Hang on Little Tomato Half the Perfect World Surprise ASIN: B000F8OII2 Release Date: 2006-05-23

Tracks:

1. Moon Over The Freeway
2. Angel With An Attitude
3. Fall Awake
4. Aluminum Can
5. Fish To Fry
6. In The Meantime
7. Its A Shame
8. Waking Up In The City
9. Growing Upside Down
10. Get Up N Go
11. Bye Bye Love
12. Nosy Neighbor
13. Your Heads Too Big

Amazon.com

A singing duo of Amanda Barrett on mandolin and dulcimer, and Abby DeWald on guitar, this is the second release by The Ditty Bops. They draw liberally on genres of yore, hopping from western swing to vaudevillian theatrics, jazz, and folk music. They mine a vein similar to what Dan Hicks was doing with his Hot Licks in the early seventies, though their compositional sensibilities embrace a wider realm. Sympathetically produced by Mitchell Froom (who also plays keyboards, though the dazzling turn at the piano on "Aluminum Can" is by Greg Rutledge), they're joined by some of the finest players to be found in Los Angeles, including the ever-apt percussion of Elvis Costello's longtime drummer, Pete Thomas. While the title song opens the set on a quaint note, by the third number, "Fall Awake," it becomes clear that The Ditty Bops are not to be pigeonholed. The set's one cover, Boudleaux and Felice Bryant's "Bye Bye Love," is sweet but breaks the parade of their own resonant and mysterious songs. --David Greenberger

Album Description

"Combining a magical attic's worth of dusty musical idioms, iridescent golden harmonies and a quirky lyrical worldview, The Ditty Bops provide a refreshing antidote to the misbegotten, soul-grinding notion of thinking you know what happens next.... Abby DeWald (guitar) and Amanda Barrett (mandolin/dulcimer) embody the simple Saturday afternoon pleasures—of thrift store finds and getting lost in the library—with their amalgam of ragtime, jazz, vaudeville, Western swing and folk, but it would sell the Bops short to lump them in with nostalgia-driven absolutists." (Austin Chronicle) The Ditty Bops are different, way different, and that makes the singing-songwriting-playing duo of Amanda Barrett and Abby DeWald special. On their second album, Moon Over The Freeway, co-produced by Mitchell Froom (Suzanne Vega, Crowded House, Elvis Costello) as was their 2004 self-titled debut, The Ditty Bops are strangely, wonderfully captivating.

Customer Reviews:

just as good as the other one!.......2007-07-19

I don't understand how these ladies aren't on the radio?!?
They are so talented and the songs on this disk really help when I have a situation i need to laugh at... or if i just need to gain a little perspective.

Great album........2007-07-12

Although it doesn't compare to seeing them live, this is still an amazing album. Maybe it's not quite as good as their first, but it's pretty good.

This is a must have!.......2007-05-23

I first saw the Ditty Bops on LOGO and fell in love with them. Even after listening to my favorite song of theirs I still don't think my head's too big. I love their humor but most of all their music. Check them out. You won't be disappointed.

over the moon..........2007-04-22

i can't believe i never got around to reviewing this album a year ago when it first came out. i saw the ditty bops open for nickel creek at the johnny mercer theatre in savannah, georgia and i bought their debut cd right on the spot. on the way home, i was utterly flabbergasted at how gorgeous their voices sounded coming through my car speakers. words fail me, but suffice to say that i was thrilled to realize that their second cd would be out within the month. i was also a little worried that maybe the dreaded sophomore slump would rear its ugly head...but the ditty bops more than beat that particular curse.

MOON OVER THE FREEWAY is every bit as amazing as the first cd and over the last year i have purchased and given away over a dozen copies of each to various friends (i did the same thing with BRIAN WILSON PRESENTS "SMILE" awhile back). listening to their wonderfully inventive harmonies and instrumentation is a cure for ANY case of the blues (or the blahs). anyone who thinks this album is lacking in comparison to the first is just deluded. i guess it's like people who claim that RUBBER SOUL was vastly superior to REVOLVER (they are both amazing albums, sillies).

do yourself a favor and buy two copies of the Ditty Bops cds. keep a set for yourself and give a set to someone you truly love.

These chicks are hot!.......2007-03-30

Great CD! Just as good as their first one! Hot chicks with talent are great!

Average customer rating: cheeky Sharing a sound some of it is fabulous...I just play those songs over and over The Ditty Bops Bop What makes this so damn good?

The Ditty Bops The Ditty Bops Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Moon Over the Freeway The Dresden Dolls Yes, Virginia... Hang on Little Tomato Sympathique ASIN: B00063MCKW Release Date: 2004-10-26

Tracks:

1. Walk or Ride
2. Wishful Thinking
3. Ooh La La
4. Sister Kate
5. Breeze Black Night
6. Gentle Sheep
7. Pale Yellow
8. Four Left FEet
9. There's A Girl
10. Unfortunate Few
11. Short Stacks
12. Wake Up

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

Album 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:

cheeky.......2007-07-19

The music is very updeat. If your in a bad mood put the disk in and the world around out. Its impossible to walk away from anyone of these songs with out your smile.

Sharing a sound.......2007-06-30

Last winter, my daughter gave me the first season of Grey's Anatomy on dvd for Christmas. She came home one evening to find me watching one scene over and over again--not for the acting, but for the music. The song was "Sister Kate", and within days I was purchasing this CD.

Listen carefully and you will find that four or five songs on this indie CD have made it to television, on such shows as Grey's Anatomy and Men in Trees.

Every cut on this cd is a rich musical gift for the listener. If you skip "Ooh La La", you not only miss great lyrics, you miss story telling at it's best.

Even better (altho some won't like this part) I can listen to this on the upcoming cross country trip with my 17 year old and my parents. Perfect song for this . . . "wake Up" the final track, about living in and outside the "rules".

Pick this up and enjoy.

some of it is fabulous...I just play those songs over and over.......2007-03-25

I love this album, but could definitey do without a couple of the songs. The ones that I'd keep, however, are way worth it and definitey unique in this era. There's an adorble, fun, old timey, song about one of these gals not being able to "shimmy like [her] sister Kate," all about staying out all night dancing, that I play over and over, because it's so fun and I wish the whole album were in that style. Instead, you get some slower songs, and some more modern sounding stuff, but none of it is bad, and a lot of it is good and mellow, and beautiful. I like these sisters' voices, and wouldn't mind seeing them live sometime, if possible. I will be buying their second album after I'm done writing this, in fact. Recommended.

The Ditty Bops Bop.......2007-01-28

This duet chose a fine name. Their music is sweet, earnest, and happy.

What makes this so damn good?.......2007-01-24

I don't really know.
I listen to a LOT of music. Probably nearing several hundred albums this year, nearly all well reviewed, and I just couldn't stop listening to this one. I heard about it, I take it, pretty late, so I think of this album as a 2006 one, and with that in mind I'd call it, hands down, my favorite of the year. Gorgeous harmonies, upbeat acoustic guitar/banjo type bluegrassy countryish music, and witty, funny lyrics all combine into something somehow significantly greater than the sum of its formidable parts. What a great group. And every song gets better with the second, third, and fiftieth listen. You should not hesitate if you're considering buying this.

Average customer rating:

Paste Magazine Music Sampler #23 Frank Black , San Roberts , Edie Brickell , Tim Easton , David Ford , Roman Candle , Ditty Bops , The Drams , Syd Matters , and Jonah Smith Manufacturer: paste ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music ASIN: B000P91PUA

Product Description

1. the Gate - Sam roberts 2. Fire Island - The Long Winters 3. Imaginary Girl - the Bees 4. One Last Time - Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians 5. Roscoe - Midlake 6. Sing, Theresa Says - Greg Laswell 7. A New Family colour Revolt 8. Next to You - Tim Easton 9. Song No 6 - ron Sexsmith and ane Brun 10. Good Man - King Straggler 11. I Don't Care What You Call Me - David Ford 12. Something Left to Say - Roman Candle 13. Sketches (20 something life) - La Rocca 14. When H binds to O - Lotus 15. Angel with an Attitude - The Ditty Bops 16. If Your Poison Gets You - Frank Black 17. Different When It Comes to You - Bruce Cockburn 18. My Morning Scene - Jonah Smith 19. slip Away - The Muckrakers 20. Unhingwed - The Drams 21. Obstacles - Syd Matters

Average customer rating:

Get Your Hands on the Bands Various Artists Manufacturer: Warner Brothers ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music ASIN: B000MD57TO

Product Description

1. Billy Talent: Devil in a Midnight Mass 2. Famly Force 5: Love Addict 3. Mercy Fall: Hangman 4. Evalinel: Where the Fearless Hide 5. Needtobreathe: Knew It All 6. Big City Rock: Sink (live) 7. Hard-Fi: Hard to Beat 8. Jack's Mannequin: Dark Blue 9. Paramore: Emergency 10. Guster: Satellite 11. O.A.R.: Wonderful Day (live) 12. Regina Spektor: Fideliy 13. Ditty Bops: Your Head's Too Big (live) 14. Zero 7: You're My Flame

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