Mates of States: Re-Arrange Us Review
Mates of States is a duo out of Kansas apparently known for their previous releases like Bring It Back and Team Boo. I wouldn’t actually know but it shouldn’t matter.
I first “officially” heard about them while skimming through Pitchfork reviews and seeing a wonderful 5.0 out of 10 but I would say the blogs had a bigger influence on whether or not I would check this album. The Panic Manual a Canadian blog gave it a 4.5 out of 5 which means a lot more then whatever critic has to say.
Mates of States plays the brand of indie pop or twee pop that I seem to enjoy (is there a really a certain brand? I may be talking out of my ass). It’s one of those bands where I say to myself why the fuck haven’t I heard about them before?
“Re-Arrange Us” begins off with the hit “Get Better”. A wonderful number which starts with a cute little piano introduction and the lyrics “forget your politics for awhile, let the color schemes arrive” which seems to resonate throughout the song. It’s a great pop song…nothing great lyrically but sung really well and ultimately very catchy.
The second track…seems like it’s going to be a power pop number but this one actually got more on my nerves after a few listens. I can’t tolerate repeated choruses/hooks…if something is catchy I want it to be brilliant. Unfortunately “now” repeated 10 times is 9 times too many. My Only Offer features Jason Hammel on vocals, which finally gets back to the pop goodness that I would argue that I’m looking for. The song still simplistic but it’s at least worth your time. I would say the same about The Re-Arranger, which is a good pop song but at least with a little better craftsmanship though the vocals are not as solid.
After awhile it gets tedious for me to review the rest of the album. Not that the rest of the album is bad but like the rest of the album, it’s just solid. Rock solid but sometimes rocks are boring (what the heck am I saying…rocks are boring!)
It’s hard to be critical of a pop band who definitely seems to do something right with their songs. I may not be a big fan of their album but I still think it’s decent. Comparable to The Submarines and Headlights.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
My Only Offer by Mates of State
Buy this album at: Insound/CD Universe/Amazon
If the rating means more than any review, why should I read yours?