Pros: Hipsters may actually crack a smile - watch out!
Cons: the looooove may be a little too sweet for your indie cool
The Bottom Line: Pop rock as a stripped down partnership rather than say, a dictatorial project consisting of KISS licks fueled by Rivers Cuomo’s ego circa 1995.
kellydeal's Full Review: Our Constant Concern by Mates Of State
As a part of the Lawrence, Kansas music “scene” in the late 90’s, Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel were both tired of the frustration that comes from working in musical “groups”, so they split off from all of their other projects and moved to San Francisco to start Mates of State together.
Well, that and they were, you know, in love.
When they met, she taught first graders, he helped cancer research.
And then they ran away to be in their rock band together.
Now, he plays drums, she plays a vintage Yamaha keyboard.
And when they play together, it sounds as though they’re having some kind of perfect musical conversation that translates into interesting harmonies, sometimes clumsy melodies, wigged-out beats and keyboard noises.
Overall: Fun. Pop. And gosh-darn jovial good times even the more frown-y too cool for school hipsters can enjoy.
Our Constant Concern is still about the farthest away you can get from macho-rock, but even with only two members, they avoid sounding hollow and wussed out. Encouraged by Jason’s loud drumming and punk rock background - Kori belts out each lyric during “Quit Doin’ it” and other tracks with such force you can’t imagine that large voice coming from such a tiny person.
Though this album does have a bit of a more a polished, produced sound than their first release My Solo Project, there was no messing with the natural chemistry between the two members. During the opening song “Hoarding it for Home” Kori sings lead while Jason’s voice is layered behind her . They each sing two parts that eventually become one fun up-and-down chorus of “everyone settle down, settle down, settle down,” you can’t help but sing along with.
They also manage to keep the signature child-like lyrics and quiet stop/go call/response harmonies and constantly changing tempos in songs like “Halves and Have-nots”. But it’s also apparent from one particular wacky The-Mothership-Has-Landed-organ effect during “Uber Legitimate”, Kori’s doing a little more experimenting this time around.
And this experimentation is carried on more subtly during “A Duel Will Settle This” when a wall of sound soon turns into tiny background bells that seem like rain falling on quiet harmonies.
It’s really quite charming.
On the other hand, the belted out stuttering harmonic chorus “ah! Ah! AH! AHHH!” during the last track “As Night as Now”, quite frankly gives the song a Very Brady feel that makes it hard to shake images of matching bell-bottomed red-white-and-blue jumpers dancing through your head. But pay no mind, ‘cause you’re still smiling.
Overall, a couple tracks on Our Constant Concern do come off as dull, but not necessarily because they are bad but more so because they aren’t as catchy as the others. And despite some of the clumsy experimenting and despite the “Sunshine Day” vibe some of the harmonies give out, Our Constant Concern comes off and endearing rather than annoying.
And yeah, for all of you thinking it - you could say they carry on in the same vein of many other duos visible in music right now. You know, boy/girl combo playing pared-down ditties by “unconventional” means. Because yes, Mates of Stateis a husband/wife band. But they certainly aren’t as dark as, say, Quasi and definitely not guitar driven, like The White Stripes. Instead, they create poppy, playful songs without the brooding or cynicism or the sugary mess.
And they don’t play the are they or aren’t they? games the White Stripes do.
I recently had a chance to see Mates of State play live at The Abbey in Chicago, and true to Indie Legend (you read about it in ever live review) - they laugh, roll their eyes, have a great time and just can’t keep their eyes off each other when they play together.
Yep, seems like they are in love and they don’t care who knows it.
And it all comes off very honest and just plain fun - just like their music.
Great Music to Play While: frolicking through burning leaves on a fall day.
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