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If you aren’t familiar with Berkeley, California quartet the morning benders yet, chances are you’ll be hearing a lot about them in 2010. The band’s 2008 debut, Talking Through Tin Cans, was deemed the best indie/alternative album of that year by the all-knowing folks over at iTunes and the band recently signed with powerhouse indie label Rough Trade (part of the 4AD/Matador/XL family of imprints). the morning benders’ sophomore full-length, Big Echo, will be released on March 9th and was co-produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear, who lends some eccentric touches and a certain crispness to the tracks.
Among Big Echo‘s ten tracks is “Promises,” a thick, satisfying slice of indie rock that feels plucked from 2002, recalling the finer moments of the Definite Article heyday (when The Shins and The Strokes and The Walkmen enjoyed a surprisingly large spotlight). While the morning benders may evoke this breed of band–and wouldn’t you know, they sport that curious the, too–their sound is more adventurous than most of their peers and more willing to saunter off on sixteen bar tangents. This lends a nice jocundity to “Promises” that is lacking in the music of their more dour-faced contemporaries. Vocalist Christopher Chu sounds like he’s having a lot of fun with this song because he probably is, and that blithe sensibility is contagiously borne through the airwaves. What’s more, “Promises” manages to remain taut even with its small bits of sidetracking, making it a temptingly re-listenable tune.
(45 votes, average: 8.07 out of 10)
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January 12th, 2010 at 10:46 am
I can imagine hearing this in a car commercial. In a good way. This song is like a piece of bacon.
January 12th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Love it. Sounds like there is a bit of Sloan in the mix as well.
January 12th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
love it! great vocals and really fine lyrics.
January 13th, 2010 at 2:02 am
been in love with this band ever since seeing them live a couple years ago. talking through tin cans is a masterpiece and i expect amazing things from big echo as well.
i completely agree that we will be hearing a lot about these guys in 2010. they deserve it!
January 13th, 2010 at 4:49 am
Can’t wait for Big Echo’s release!
January 13th, 2010 at 8:28 am
Good grief, another emo sounding indie release. How original. I understand people may like this stuff, but it is about as original as Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, but without the tasty processed powdered cheese and undercooked noodles.
January 13th, 2010 at 11:23 am
I’m a big fan of their Motown covers (they have a really fine version of “He’s A Rebel” by The Crystals), but find their usual songwriting a little bland. But as far as bland indie pop goes, I’m glad they’re making it and not someone with lesser influences.
January 13th, 2010 at 11:32 am
this shit ain’t bland at all!
January 13th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
are you kidding me? this is so good
January 15th, 2010 at 6:11 am
I’m a big indie fan and I love these vocals