Time figures heavily into the twinkling, groovy swell of “Promises,” the lead single from the morning benders’ Big Echo, and it is decidedly not on their side: “I can’t help thinking we grew up too fast / and I know this won’t last a second longer than it has.” A lot of the writing on the forthcoming, impressively consistent and endlessly catchy Big Echo is set in that ineffable state of yearning and pensiveness that comes with coming of age, tightly packaged in clever if simply constructed pop. The album’s co-produced by the band’s main mind/songwriter Chris Chu and Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor, whose sonic stamp teases out the sophisticated side of the benders’ erstwhile straightforward jangle. Think of Taylor’s work with Department Of Eagles: subtly surreal tics outlining and underwriting whimsical and heartworn poses, with one foot in James Mercer’s melodic stylings, occasionally as morose but often punchier and more sparkly than anything in the Shins’ narrow chutes and inverted worlds. Download this, and keep ears peeled for the rest of Big Echo: Despite their promise, it’s better than anticipated. Rough Trade and True Panther snatched them up for this one, which, smart move Rough Trade and True Panther.
Big Echo is out 3/9 via Rough Trade. “Promises” is on sale digitally 1/12 via iTunes with a 7″ due 2/23 via the excellent True Panther Sounds, home of Girls, Glasser, etc. Preorder here.
Tour:
03/10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Jonny Brenda’s
03/11 – Washington, D.C. @ The Black Cat
03/12 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
03/13 – Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn
03/15 – Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree
03/23 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Rhythm Room
03/25 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
03/26 – San Diego CA @ Casbah
03/27 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar
03/28 – Santa Barbara @ Muddy Waters
03/30 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
04/01 – Portland, OR @ Holocene
04/02 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Café
04/03 – Vancouver, Media Club
04/05 – Provo, UT @ Club Velour
04/07 – Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
04/09 – Des Moines, IA @ The Vaudeville Mews
04/10 – Ames, IA @ The Maintenance Shop
04/11 – Rock Island, IL @ Huckleberry’s Pizza (Presented by Daytrotter)
04/12 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
04/14 – Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel
04/15 – Montreal, QUE @ La Sala Rossa
04/16 – Vermont @ The Monkey House
04/17 – Boston, MA @ TT The Bear’s
04/22 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
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this track is amazing. sounds like BIG ECHO will definitely be worth the wait.
this is really really good
I saw them play this song live on new years and it sounded even more amazing. This band is going to blow up in 2010!!
beautiful song-I have been waiting for this album for a year now!
EPIC! so excited, they’re gonna be huge
damn, that really hit the spot
SO GOOD. morning benders are my favorite band
That verse is blatantly ripping off Grizzly Bear’s “Two Weeks.” No wonder they wanted Chris Taylor to produce.
Not bad, just blatantly unoriginal.
Absolutely not a rip-off of Two Weeks! if anything the guitar in the verse could be compared to Daniel Rossen’s in ‘While you wait for the others’, but i’m sure with Chris Taylor producing, Grizzly Bear are bound to be a significant influence on their sound and in turn the production will be similar to that of GBs. Truly fantastic track though, Originality isn’t really that big a deal- it’s pop at it’s best- leaves me virtually salivating in eagerness for Big Echo!
good work, benders! at it again…can’t wait to see you in sf! i go to school there you see, so i’ll be there!
bodacious track
KLUPLOWBLOODHURTGOOD is the sound of BIG ECHO punching my ears figuratively in the face this 9 March 2010. i’ve already bought a mouthguard
Wow! Musically, I love the motown influence in there sound. Some of their sounds remind me of the recent Raphael Saddiq album (which was great). But where as he went straight motown, these guys ROCK it. Plain and simple. Great Music.
hell yes, this song is groovin’