I love, love, love stellar self-titled debuts.Surf's up, Jersey. Apparently, it's always a sunny day for Real Estate. Now based in NY, these guys manage to put out psychedelic surf rock that laces in a little alt country, a little lo-fi, and a whole mess of fuzzy melodic haziness. It's relaxing, warm, lingering, nostalgic, just straight-up fantastic, and would definitely have made my Top 10 List of 2009 had I heard it sooner. Plus, the beachy feel to this album is one of those musical non-sequiturs that you can't seem to figure out. How is it that a bunch of guys in Brooklyn would even write such a record? Maybe they spent a lot of time avoiding fistpumpers at the Jersey shore every summer? Or maybe they were yearning for idyllic days spent gazing out at the ocean and feeling the waves gently kiss their feet. With all the recent snow, I often find myself longing for those last few weeks of August spent in the endless California sun when I biked around the beach for hours by myself, happily listening to music and taking in all the sights and sounds. All I have to do now is put on this album and it will instantly transport me back there, each and every shining time. (If anyone got this last sentence's reference, I fucking love you.)
Favorites: "Beach Comber," "Pool Swimmers," "Fake Blues," "Green River" and "Suburban Beverage"
7 Comments:
Whoa, turns out these guys went to high school with Vivian Girls... like right down the street where I grew up. If they read this: Ridgewood High School football rules! :)
What are your top 5 self-titled debuts this year (or decade if that is easier)?
Did you like this album? I really got a feeling it might be your style.
Hmm, not ready for the existential crisis another top 5 list will put me through, but here's a superficial shot as this was harder than expected (unranked):
Vampire Weekend, American Football, The xx, Fleet Foxes and Owls.
I've listened to this album couple times now and I am still on the fence. There are definitely bits I like, but right now its just chill background music. I haven't latched on to it yet.
But I think you are right, sonically it should be something I like, if a bit mellow.
It definitely fits in with Surfer Blood and The Drums kick I have been on lately.
I figured, cuz I coulda sworn I read posts from you regarding surf rock before! I think the reason why it's good background music might be the muted/hard to hear vocals. Usually I don't like that, but in this case it kind of makes me like the music more. I'm not sure I even want to hear the dude sing, I'm much more interested in their instrumentation.. hmmm.
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