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July 10, 2006
MS Pick - The 1900s
I’ve been listening to the steady blend of melodic pop from Chicago based The 1900s pretty regularly since getting their debut EP. I find myself gravitating to the layered organ flavored compositions of Plume Delivery so much so, that I wonder what took me so long to write about them. The gender mixing choral harmonies immediately reference Belle and Sebastian, which by the stage crowding size of The 1900s (8 members) is both an influence of template and sound.
The centurial moniker is not focused solely on our heroes from Glasgow, and the indelible mark they made (and continue to make) on indie rock since the mid nineties. It directly aims homage to decades of bouncing styles from 60s Britpop, 70s psychedelia, as well as admitted “Buddy Holly from the 50s or Tom Petty from the 80s” to cover at least one-half of a hundred years of music. That mixed bag of artists has likely excited and drove away readers to this site already. Take a listen and judge for yourself.
1900s - Bring the Good Boys Home
At first glance an anti-war song, or is it a vague conversation with the wives left behind? Unclear, but the call and response dueling organs will grab your attention and lock you in attention even before the unhurried vocals tiptoe loveliness over the keyboard barrage. Think Cat Power backed by the Mates of State.
1900s - Patron Saint of The Mediocre
The rhythmic vocals and jazzy music take a walk through the psyche-rock park to say “hello, howdy, hi” to The Zombies via this doubly ominous and subdued gem. The full arsenal of 1900s weaponry is on display here. From throwback lyrical delays, to the always constant, thick musical coloring of layered instrumentation, you may get rockabilly guitar, Motown girl group harmonies, and prog-rock (or is it faux shoegaze?) in the outro. All of this somehow kept together during the various changes. One of the best songs of year at the midway point of 2006.
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Look for a full length album timed for ‘07 summer soundtracks hopefully next spring. Buy Plume Delivery and try to hold on until then.
Tourdates
7.15.06 - Canopy Club, Urbana, IL
7.28.06 - South Union Arts, Chicago, IL
"1900s" is a Google busting name for a band. Here are the main links.
//1900s - myspace
//1900s - site
//1900s - Interview (via Shake Your Fist)
Tags: 1900s, Belle and Sebastian, The Zombies, Parasol Records
Posted by Merry Swankster at July 10, 2006 07:30 AM
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Comments
oh man, the 1900s were so awesome when i saw them, in NYC. the psychedelic rock intensity of Jefferson Airplane, but grooves like Sly & Family Stone - good times!
Posted by: su at July 10, 2006 10:17 PM
