Mates of State “Bring it Back”

Mates of State at Austin City Limits festival last year.
I have to be honest: I’m still not sure how I feel about Mates of State. The best way I can say it is that some days I like them better than other days. I feel like I have to be in a certain mood, though I haven’t quite put a finger on what that mood is.

Typically, I like my pop/indie rock a little more downtrodden and somber. But I find myself coming back to the cool two-part vocals of Mates of State and those hooky synth lines.

What really amazes me is how any husband and wife co-exist as bandmates. Don’t get me wrong: I love my wife and all, but might there be some awkward moments when one is trying to do some writing about the other? But it appears to be working for Mates of State, the Rosebuds and The Arcade Fire.

Mates of State vs. the Rosebuds. Steel-cage match. Fight to the death. Who ya got?

Anyway, I’m enjoying the new Mates of State album Bring it Back, due for release March 21. Visit Barsuk for more information.

Mates of State | Fraud in the ’80s
Mates of State | For the Actor

Also …

Matt asked about the iSpin debut last Thursday … and, well, it went OK. Could have been better, could have been worse. We’re scoping out new venues for the idea, possibly closer to the Arizona State campus to lure the college folk. These young kids and their iPods.
Here is the winning playlist, from Sam (aka DJ G3K). He put nice time and effort into to it, and, for that, he wins a $50 iTunes gift card courtesy of iLounge. We’re excited about the potential of the event and we’ve got lots o’ good ideas for it. We’ll keep ya posted.

And Annie and I are headed to Tucson to check out Low and Damien Jurado at Club Congress on Wednesday. (Any Tucson readers in the house?) Expect a post for that on Wednesday. Thanks to Chad for getting me hooked on Jurado’s Where Shall You Take Me?.

4 thoughts on “Mates of State “Bring it Back””

  1. Nah, I prefer the Rosebuds. Mates are great, but I can’t listen to them for too long without getting annoyed.

  2. don’t want to be a hater, but i walked up to that MoS show at ACL last year and seriously wanted to off myself after about 3 minutes. they just get on my last nerve everytime i try and give them a chance.

    also, way to hold down the GvsB fort. that kegger sounds like fun.

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