Released - 1/18/11
Label - Fat Possum Records
BLURB - It's hard not to fall in love with the earnest and charming nature of Tennis' "Cape Dory." Filled to the brim with airy pop songs that will make us all want to run out to the beach and grab a lemonade, the record plays as a soundtrack for a trip the shore, circa 1966. Mellow, washed out guitars and vintage vocals form the core of Tennis' persona, which plays off as some kind of marriage between Best Coast and Beach House. The only thing lacking on this fun and breezy album is some kind of substance or depth. Each song sounds like it was manufactured in the same mold, providing a serious lack of diversity. That being said, "Cape Dory" is a decent throwback-pop album that will definitely help take your mind off of this crappy winter weather.
Rating - 8 out of 10
FULL STORY - The back story to Tennis is a fairly interesting one. The duo (husband and wife) sold all of their belongings after college in Colorado, to venture off on an extended trip along the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in a collection of material that would turn into "Cape Dory." Initially the duo released the song 'Marathon' as their first and only single. Music fans of every genre flocked to 'Marathon' and instantly fell in love with the casual beauty and buoyant pop sensibilities of the track. From that moment on (probably Summer of 2010), Tennis has been one of the most sought after indie bands. People wanted more. What ensued was an endless underground marketing campaign that saw Tennis being featured in nearly every music blog this side of the Williamsburg Bridge. And so this past week "Cape Dory" was finally released, but not to everyone's delight. The album comes off as hurried and uninspired. Nearly every track seems to have been concocted off of the Tennis musical assembly line, making for a stagnant and repetitive repertoire. Now, all this being said - the majority of "Cape Dory" is more than enjoyable and will strike a chord with anyone that enjoys a good pop album. But I do think the hype and lofty expectations certainly did put a damper on everyone's spirits.
'Take Me Somewhere' leads off the album and lends a bright-eyed, exciting, 'the world is at our fingertips' mood. The song seems like the perfect opener for any married couple that just left college and are traveling along the eastern coast - searching for inspiration. Much of the track is laid back, floating along without any sense of direction. The music is very minimal, consisting mostly of just drums, guitar, vocals and the occasional organ. When the chorus hits the pace does pick up and finally offers some structure.
Title track 'Cape Dory,' which has seen several different variations released, is much in the same vein as 'Take Me Somewhere.' The song begins slowly and innocently before organizing into a solid beach tune. Shade of 60's pop emerge as the vocals turn into a chorus of "Sha La La's" towards the end of the track.
The widely approved 'Marathon' doubles as one of the album's best offerings. The song is constructed around a warm and infectious bass line that carries the track on it's shoulders. 'Marathon' is also one of the album's most diverse tracks. The song varies both it's pace and instrumentation constantly, keeping the listener interested and snapping their fingers. The lo-fi nature of the song only ameliorates the vintage/retro feel that 'Marathon' is soaked in. If I played this for you and told you it was a pop hit from 1965 by a surf band in San Diego...you'd believe me.
My personal favorite on the album is 'South Carolina.' The first couple of times I heard the track I thought it was boring, and didn't really do anything. But for whatever reason this song continues to grow on me. One of the reasons, in my opinion, is the strong vocal performance - as 'South Carolina' is one of the few tracks that ventures outside of a single octave of notes. The muffled and fuzzy guitars create a great sense of nostalgia that mixes perfectly with the endearing and light-hearted vocals.
Sure, I'd like the album to have some more depth and chances. I'd like there to be more variation and creativity. I'd like for every song to not sound eerily similar to the previous one. But still, as a whole, "Cape Dory" is nothing short of an impressive debut. It's an album that you can throw on, hit play and relax to. I said this about Kisses first album and I'll say this about Tennis' - it's great hot tub music. You don't have to worry about skipping ahead, or scrutinizing the music - it's a no-fuss, no-hassle collection of summer hooks and melodies that will always leave you in a better mood.
Have a listen to "South Carolina"
Tracks
1.) Take Me Somewhere
2.) Long Boat Pass
3.) Cape Dory
4.) Marathon
5.) Bimini Bay
6.) South Carolina
7.) Pigeon
8.) Seafarer
9.) Baltimore
10.) Waterbirds
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