Second Look Sunday - Week Seven!

[The Curmudgeon]

Last week, with Jens Lekman, Trashcanman made the entirely valid comment that, well, the guys songs and his range all do seem kinda similar. Hey, fair enough. So I thought we'd look at a duo who's first track sounds absolutely nothing like this next one.

It's Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, AKA husband and wife pop couple Mates of State.



And that could be quite possibly their worst ever photo. Surely I can find them looking a little more photogenic than that?



Better.

Anyway, this was the song we saw before..



And?

Trashcanman's Original Response, Dec 21st, 2009: Not a big synthesizer fan, but that was some damn good stuff.

Not a synth fan, eh? Well, alright. Let's take a song that has none of what we've just heard on there, and is only similar to "Fraud in the 80's" because it's got a man and wife singing on it. A song I was madly in love with for about a year, It's "Get Better."



So - verdict? Did they Get Better?

[trashcanman]

Well, they were pretty great in the first place, but it's good to see they aren't a one trick pony. Mission accomplished: I'm gonns wishlist these guys.

[The Curmudgeon]

My work here is done.

What IS an Amazon wishlist, anyway? Is it just a simple list of what you're wanting to buy in the future or do you get an e-mail or something with offers for those things?

[trashcanman]

Mostly just a list, but they do occasionally send you emails with deals on them. I used to shop on a site that allowed you to set a price on each item and if it ever got that low, they'd notify you by email, but it wasn't Amazon. I just wishlist everything I really want and then when I've got some money to spend or need some extra items to reach the free shipping quota I'll hit up my WL and see what's lookin' good and cheap.

[The Curmudgeon]

That's actually a really good idea. I have this big list in my head of all the stuff I want when I get money, and then when I DO have cash I completely forget what I'm looking for.

I took a quick scan of your wishlist, and if you want a Mates of State opinion, I would replace "Team Boo" with the "Re-Arrange Us" record. A lot of MoS fans resented that album because it ditched the more swirling keyboard noise of their previous albums and went for a more "grown up" sound. That's true, and it's better for it, and that's where "Get Better" came from.

[trashcanman]

I will do that thing. I picked the albums based on some reviews, price, and on length. Re-Arrange Us is really damn short. But if you felt strongly enough to make that post about it, it's probably something worth hearing.