In Seed Comes Fruit
Poi Dog Pondering founder and only constant member Frank Orrall has rarely stood still since forming his group in Hawaii in 1986. He's maneuvered his band through nearly as many different cities as line-up changes. The eclectic outfit has gradually found its niche somewhere between the easygoing acoustic rock of theDave Matthews Bandand the pan-American rock and R&B; fusion ofSantana. Its ninth album is typically overflowing with ideas and energy, as the fifth line-up of Poi Dog Pondering takes up the experimental bent of 1999'sNatural Thing, mixing strains of folk, electronic music, and soul into uplifting tracks like "A Love Rains Down" and "Keep the Faith."--Aidin Vaziri