<p>On their new EP, <em>Medium High</em>, <a href="http://www.the-1900s.com/" target="_blank">The 1900s</a>, a
seven-piece from Chicago, navigate the same Belle and
Sebastian/Neko-era Velvet Underground pop territory as their first two
albums. Everything here sounds gorgeous: lush string backing, wonderful
harmonies between guitarist Edward Anderson and Jeanine O'Toole,
Caroline Donovan, and Andra Kulans (yes, three female vocalists),
swirling fuzz guitar ("A Face I Know"), Mike Jasinski's keyboard lines,
Tim Minnick's assured snare-heavy drumming. It all sounds so very grand, which fits a band that recorded its first album
before it ever played a live show. Though apparently they gave some
damn fine performances at SXSW a year or so ago—so fine in fact that
one Spin critic called them "Band of the Day." Check out this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-031N4yxQg" target="_blank">live
video</a> from WGN (not sure
if I buy the Fleetwood Mac comparisons, but alright). <em>Medium High</em> will
surely keep the buzz going for the 1900s, and rightly so: They're
making some of the best indie pop out there right now. Despite
their pleasant sounding song titles—"A Face I Know," "Making Love in
Summertime," etc.—their lyrics are far darker. Take, for example, the
second verse from "When I Say Cohen": "Listen up, I never knew I'd ever
be so sad / I've been touched in places by very scary hands / If anyone
should ask me I'll tell them I don't know / I've been leaving all my
clues like footprints in the snow." Well then…</p>
<p>Highlights
here include the Camera Obscura-sounding "Collections" and "Age of
Metal," which opens with gentle piano and acoustic guitar but builds to
heavy drum and fuzz guitar overtaking Anderson's "Ohh, ohh, ohh"s.
It's the middle of the EP, with "Age of Metal" and "A Face I Know", where the
real guitar crunch comes in.</p>
<p>Recommended situations for listening to <em>Medium High</em>: Long drives on the 101; NYC coke parties; <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZpg5dwgYNE" target="_blank">dancing, swirling, dancing!</a></p>
<p>
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</p>
<p class="photo-credit">"Collections"</p>
<p>
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</p>
<p class="photo-credit">"Age of Metals"</p>
Zach Kaufmann
the 1900s, medium high, best indie pop rock, psych, perfect vintage hipster
the-feed
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2009-02-25T14:39:13-05:00
<p>The 1900s are making some of the best indie pop available right now.</p>
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