Bring It Back is Mates of State's fourth album and their first for new label Barsuk. Usually by the time of a band's fourth album they start to sound like the last half of their new label's name. That's not the case here, not by a long shot. The duo of Kori Gardner (various keyboards/vocals) and Jason Hammel (drums/vocals) have actually improved, and the album sports stronger songs, a fuller sound, more emotional weight, and an exuberant soul that spills out of the speakers like milk and cake at a kid's birthday party. It's hard to pinpoint what makes this record more satisfying than the rest of their excellent back catalog. Perhaps it is the reliance on more piano than usual, maybe the richer vocals of Gardner, maybe the punchy and powerful production from Bill Racine, or that the band has added some guitar and bass to their sound. It's a combination of all that, but most of all it's the number of memorable songs, which count among some of the best of their career. There are songs with surging vocal harmonies ("Beautiful Dreamer," "So Many Ways"), songs with choruses that inspire you to add your own heartfelt vocal contributions ("Fraud in the 80s," "For the Actor"), songs with spine-tingling dynamic shifts ("What It Means," "Think Long"), songs that make a fuzzed-out organ seem like the coolest possible instrument, ("Punchlines"). A song like "Running Out" (a monumental epic that starts as a simple allad and builds to a heart-wrenching climax complete with a vocal choir) shows how assured and interesting the band has become. Mates of State started off their career as a kind of curiosity (no guitars!) but have grown into the kind of group where you can't wait to see what they will do next, even if it is only to release records like Bring It Back that strengthen and perfect their formula. Mike Love would be proud.
That new mates of state album is really good. I really liked all of the new stuff they played when i saw them in houston back in december. I finallly got my own copy this evening and i must say, it rulz. I also really like their cover of Nico's "These Days" as well. Aside from the good tunes, Austin is frozen tonight, it's weird, because this is Texas, this never happens here.
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I highly recommend these guys next time they come through your neighborhood...Great great music and a large sound from two people! Love the vocal harmonies. They mostly did their new catalog with many oldies that I did not know (need to buy more records I guess)...There was a little "Crazy" (Gnarles Barkley) tease in between "Like U Crazy" that was very fun...and the encore was a Kenny Loggins ...
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I highly recommend these guys next time they come through your neighborhood...Great great music and a large sound from two people! Love the vocal harmonies. They mostly did their new catalog with many oldies that I did not know (need to buy more records I guess)...There was a little "Crazy" (Gnarles Barkley) tease in between "Like U Crazy" that was very fun...and the encore was a Kenny Loggins ...
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yay mates of state! i just saw this video today and it's tres cute. saw them at coachella this year and thought they were great. i need to get this record.
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That new mates of state album is really good. I really liked all of the new stuff they played when i saw them in houston back in december. I finallly got my own copy this evening and i must say, it rulz. I also really like their cover of Nico's "These Days" as well. Aside from the good tunes, Austin is frozen tonight, it's weird, because this is Texas, this never happens here.
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I love them. I introduced them to my wife long ago. I knew she would like them but they were sorta new to me and I just didn't keep up with the listening. Anyway, Jill can't stop listening to them. I get home and I look at the iTunes and she listened all day. Her pandora channel is all about Mates of State. So I took her to their SF concert this past summer...it was great. And now Im hoo...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Think Long |
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| 2 Fraud in the '80s |
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| 3 Like U Crazy |
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| 4 Beautiful Dreamer |
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| 5 What It Means |
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| 6 For the Actor |
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| 7 Nature and the Wreck |
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| 8 So Many Ways |
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| 9 Punchlines |
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| 10 Running Out |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Bring It Back")
