Search - David Dondero :: Transient

A DJ's view

T. Zachary Frazier | Seattle, WA | 12/02/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I love this album. I first became aware of this artist through his song Preinvasion Jitters. I saw this CD on the rack at the radio station where I work and wondered how it slipped through my fingers. After giving it a listen, I decided it was by far one of the best new albums. it has a certian hillbilly flair and ellance that is reminicant of Woody Gunthrie, Pete Seiger, and Stephan Smith."

Acoustically brainy, courageously distorted

Matthew Lee | United States | 11/16/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I wasn't sure what direction David Dondero was searching for on this latest release with the stripped-down instrumentation, but what really stood out was his brainy lyrics. I mean, this guy can write. About weird stuff. I think he would make good friends with Steve Burns, the Polyphonic Spree, and the Flaming Lips.



The sound can be best described as somewhat hollow, autumnal, and dented. Dondero's slight whinny implies a damaged spirit, as if he were a wrongly imprisoned con who happens to be extremely bright and good at guitar, or a sailor who would have much rather stayed on land, growing fruits ("Less than the air").



People who will like this CD are those who desperately want to take a break from the hustle-bustle of city life, and will take a different train down to find that coffee shop with the open mic night where they only sing songs about the nuances of earth, transportation, the cycle of life, and loneliness.



For now I'm giving this 3 stars because I need to soak this material in. This is not immediate music - this is like reading Henry David Thoreau."

See this clear

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 03/10/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

""I'm in love with the living and the dead!" David Dondero sings with a weird kind of happiness in the opening track of his newest album. "Transient" is a good title for it -- it's about life, loneliness, death, loss, life, and being on the road as a musician.It opens on a bizarre note on "Living and the Dead," before lapsing into "Ashes on the Highway" -- catchy but rather macabre ("When I die/burn my body/spread my/ashes on the highway..."). The remainder of "Transient" is a mix of bouncy folk (the rock-y "Dance of Spring" and pleasant "See it Clear") and haunting slow ballads (the haunting, downbeat "20 Years" and the delightfully nuanced and musical "Stars in My Chandelier").David Dondero and "Transient" are things that grow slowly on you, like moss on a rock. First time around, the slightly "off" vocals and stripped-down acoustic sound is unimpressive. Second time around, they start to get catchier and more melodious. The third time around, they're more interesting and nuanced.Dondero's voice is a bit reminiscent of a folkier Wayne Coyne or Jeff Mangum. In a nutshell, his voice is flawed in a likable way; only occasionally does he wobble badly, as if he does "Less than the Air." He's better suited to ballads, where he sounds quite sad and vulnerable, but not whiny. The acoustic guitar is the major instrument here, but it's backed by some solid bass and drums (accompanied by some members of the band Bright Eyes).The writing is pretty solid, sometimes a little puzzling ("Saw the trees becoming lovers in the shadows...") but nice to listen to. At times they seem to be laments, reportedly based on what Dondero overhears in passing conversations. Others ("The Stars in my Chandelier") are straightforward and uncomplicated, and it's here that Dondero's songwriting is particularly strong.A nice collection of folk tinged with pop and rock. "Transient" is a sweet and downbeat look at love, death and life as a travelling musician living from day to day. It may take a little while to grow on you, but it certainly isn't forgettable."