dodie’s ‘Not For Lack Of Trying’ is a feast for the ears
Her sophomore album is her best to date.
Photo: Charlotte Hadden
British indie darling dodie just dropped her sophomore album, Not For Lack Of Trying, a cinematic feast for the ears, with its orchestral arrangements and beautiful lyricism. The record sees dodie tackle everything from mental health to heartbreak against the backdrop of sweeping instrumental arrangements. While the album tackles heavy subject matter, it also finds joy and levity along the way.
The album opens with lead single I’M FINE, an introspective track which leverages well-layered harmonies and orchestral strings to dramatic effect. The track culminates with an impactful bridge, which mirrors the chaotic overwhelm of dodie’s own mental state that she cleverly likens to a “rugby pile”. There’s a heart-aching rawness to this track as dodie asserts she’s okay, despite the cracks in the facade clearly on display.
We then move to Smart Girl, which opens with brighter tones and bird song. These dulcet tones perfectly contrast the bitter lyricism at play. While initially unassuming, on first listen, I was pleasantly surprised by a swift and euphoric crescendo midway through the track. The borderline Brechtian choice instantly endeared me to this jazzy track.
Up next is Darling, Angel, Baby, a loving tribute to her cat, Mrs, which she shares with flatmate and frequent collaborator, Greta Isaac, who also features on the track. This unconventional love song is fun and refreshing. The chorus is enormously catchy, and I’ve found its hook stuck in my head since the day the single was released. dodie and Greta’s voices blend beautifully, especially overtop gentle guitar strums. You can tell they’re having fun with the track, and that joy is simply infectious. Its playful bridge is a highlight as dodie and Greta sing of Mrs’ love of edamame.
We shift gears as we move to the bass-heavy Hold Fire, which sees dodie reflect on boundaries. I felt the weight of the arrangement in my very bones — it’s both an uneasy and immensely satisfying listen. This distinct track became an instant favourite. Yearning melancholy colours Tall Kids, a haunting track that explores dodie’s desire for connection. As with much of the rest of the album, dodie expertly plays with dynamics, which makes for entrancing arrangements. It’s also a great show of dodie’s stunning vocals.
In contrast, we then shift to bossanova-inspired single, I Feel Bad For You, Dave, a testament to dodie’s musical versatility and the closest she might ever come to a diss track. The song focuses on the titular Dave, the kind of guy “to lose a friend over a board game he doesn’t get”. This playful and cheeky takedown of attention-hungry men with big egos is a delight.
Another highlight is the delicate and deeply intimate Now, which sees dodie reach for levity even in the darkest of days. It’s one of the more understated tracks on the record, but dodie’s signature harmonies simply soar on this one. Meanwhile, The List enchanted me with its orchestral flourishes. The Answer is an unexpected bop, and its unique soundscape had me hooked.
We end with the title track Not For Lack Of Trying, which delves into the challenges of trying to find joy amidst struggling with your mental health. It perfectly encapsulates the hopelessness that comes with still finding yourself underwater no matter how hard you kick. Doing all the right things doesn’t always yield desired results and this track beautifully acknowledges that fact.
My biggest takeaway when listening to Not For Lack Of Trying is how far dodie has come since the ukulele-plucked love songs of her early YouTube days. Maybe that growth feels all the more pronounced as her dedicated fanbase has been along with her for much of that journey and watched as she chronicled her teens and twenties on YouTube. dodie’s songwriting abilities have always been undeniable, but listening to this newest project, it’s clear how much her music has matured and evolved, ultimately culminating in a sound that feels uniquely hers.
Not For Lack Of Trying is out now via Universal Music.