Rating: 9 / 10 Stars
ODD TODDLER is: Cory Todd (guitar/vocals), Kevin Marble (bass/vocals), Randy D. Marble (drums/accordion), Blaine Koonce (lap steel guitar), Steven Marble (drums)
REVIEW – Sometimes, the best music discoveries come from the people closest to us, and that was exactly the case with ODD TODDLER’s Odd Toddler!. This 2018 debut wasn’t on my radar until my friend—who’s more like a sister—Sarah Jane introduced me to it. Her connection to the band runs deep, as she’s engaged to bassist Kevin Marble, making this late introduction even more meaningful.
Released on December 28, 2018, Odd Toddler is an alternative rock gem that blends gritty garage rock, folk-inspired melodies, and raw emotional storytelling. The album kicks off with “ManInfestation”, a driving track packed with restless energy and hypnotic riffs. “Nevertheless” carries a brooding undertone, while “Automaton” stands out with its layered instrumentals and unconventional rhythm shifts.
The introspective “Careless Child” slows things down, its haunting melodies wrapping around the listener. “Alcastralia” and “Hardship” lean into the band’s experimental side, with accordion swells and lap steel flourishes adding a textured, unpredictable feel. “Noble Remedy” delivers a slow-burning intensity, leading into “Emma’s Eyes”, a poetic and deeply resonant highlight. “Midway Lights” conjures a hazy late-night atmosphere, while “Soliloquy” brings the album to a reflective close with its soaring instrumentation and lyrical depth.
Coming into this album years after its release, I can only appreciate what ODD TODDLER has crafted—a unique mix of folk-tinged alternative rock, bluesy grit, and storytelling that lingers long after the last note fades. Knowing it through a personal connection makes it even more special, and I have Sarah Jane to thank for that.
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