Mates of State 'Re-Arrange Us'

Summer sounds

By: Jordan Kerfeld

Posted: 6/2/08

"Re-Arrange Us" by Lawrence, Kan., natives Mates of State is in the running for my top summer album.

The husband-and-wife duo is famous for its simple mix of keyboard and drums. The bombastic, endlessly happy "Team Boo" thrust the two into mainstream consciousness in 2003. With "Bring It Back" in 2005, Mates were lauded for a deeper, more multi-layered sound. It was a much more conservative effort for the group, and personally, I think required a lot more patience than the instantly-infectious "Team Boo."

"Re-Arrange Us" is a pleasant balance between the two. It moves a lot more than their last record, but it maintains the lush, layered progression they've been working toward.

A sour review in the Onion AV Club hilariously bemoaned the album on the basis that the two members are married and are parents. This is an interesting way to judge a musical work. It's like saying you can't be an artist if you drink Sprite. Didn't Fountains of Wayne prove a few short years ago that soccer moms can rock ("Stacey's Mom")? Call me crazy, but marriage and parenthood are absurd measuring sticks for evaluation.

The first song of note is "Now," a deceptively hyper tune with an interesting melody and confidence that is subtle but potent.

"The Re-Arranger," the best song on the album, sounds at once like a Broken Social Scene tune that evolves into a brilliant pop piece suggesting a parallel-universe Elton John song.

Lastly, "You Are Free" embodies the minimal genius of Mates of State, with a strong back beat and dulcet, hypnotic tones of keyboard that have great shifts in tone and energy.

"Re-Arrange Us" is leagues stronger than "Bring It Back." Compared with the un-bridled brilliance of "Team Boo," I was pessimistic they could ever re-capture lightning in a bottle. While it isn't track-by-track solid like the outstanding 2003 record, it's definitely a reassuring effort. Mates of State are for real, and while not a great starting point for new listeners, it ranks as one of their finest releases to date.

Grade: A-

jkerfeld@unews.com