Released - 3/9/10
Label - Rough Trade
BLURB - First off, The Morning Benders clearly have one of the better band names I've heard over the past few years. It can literally be interpreted in about 1,000 different ways. I have my own take on what exactly a "Morning Bender" is. But for those who don't have their heads in the gutter, The Morning Benders are definitely one of the better, feel good stories of the year. Here we have a great, young band fully coming into their own on just this, their sophomore effort. As the title "Big Echo" would suggest, this record is filled with big sounds, layers and, well...echo. Despite their youthfulness, The Morning Benders appear wise beyond their age combining sophisticated melodies that will have fans of everyone from Grizzly Bear to old school Paul Anka, nodding their heads.
Rating - 9.5 out of 10
FULL STORY - Coming right out of the gates is one of the best songs 2010 will offer in "Excuses." This opening track is filled with warm colors, layers of sounds and interesting percussive elements. Comprised of mostly acoustic instruments and string sections, "Excuses" is airy enough to casually breeze past your ears, yet heavy enough to hold substance and weight. There is also a very addictive quality to Chris Chu's vocals, mixing baroque, lounge and pop styles.
The second track "Promises" is much more rock influenced, but is still filled with melodies and an indie pop sensibility. Vague comparisons could be made here to the sound of Grizzly Bear's 'Veckatimest,' especially with regards to the percussion and background vocals. There also seems to be the perfect amount of fuzz and ambient noise to accent the song and vocals.
"Wet Cement" is the first song on the album that really slows down in pace. The entire track feels like it's gently floating down a river. The drums and the bass lock tightly together during the verses, keeping the song on course in repetitive fashion that never proves too monotonous. "Wet Cement" also does a good job prefacing the more uptempo "Cold War." This fourth track is bursting with raw energy, excitement and hand claps galore. Much like "Excuses," "Cold War" sounds as if it were plucked out of the 60's. The majority of the track is merely a catchy acoustic guitar progression, but the choruses are huge. So far, this is the track on the album that I cannot get enough of, however clocking in at only 1:44, I'd love to see it go a little longer.
Another powerful song on the record is "Hand Me Downs." The track is filled with passion and emotion, yet varies in pace and intensity. This accomplishes many things, but most importantly it helps to personify the song and give it a unique character. Once again in this track we're met with the clever fusion of lo-fi haze and pop melodies - something The Morning Benders are slowly perfecting.
Big Echo drums up the closest thing to a dance number on "All Day Day Light." This track is filled with catchy riffs and hooks everywhere. The chorus turns a little foggy and chaotic, but the verses are very tight and remind me somewhat of a Phoenix-style song.
When you really sit down and listen to this record and try to critique it, you'll find it's fairly difficult task. There is so much right with this record. Everything from the instrumentation to the writing to the general feel of the album works...and sounds amazing. Do yourself a favor and buy the record - it's likely worth your $9.99.
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