two songs

I’m the kind of listener who gets stuck on songs and moods. I find one mood I like and suddenly it starts appearing everywhere before me, echoes of the ideas ubiquitous. Right now two songs dominate my consciousness, both precious, contained, and beaten down by life. One is “Black Lake” from the new Real Estate record and the other is “Criminals” from the Atlas Sound album Logos.

I could draw a line straight through from the Byrds through this Real Estate record. The shorthand goes Byrds -> Beachwood Sparks -> Real Estate. There’s a slight hint of folk music in Real Estate (their best song is called “Fake Blues”), and a twang that would be far more pronounced if we were still in the 1998 No Depression era. That’s the secret with Real Estate: they’re faddish and going along with the lo-fi thing because that’s what you do when you start a band this second (tomorrow this whole thing will be over), but at core they’re a country band, and that comes through on “Black Lake.”

It’s a stilted song — more hesitation than an amateur sky-diving convention — but the jangling guitars cut through with such force and acuteness that the whole thing shuffles and swings. The vocals are buried (of course) and convey a muffled resignation that the slowly plodding snare pops reinforce all the more. It also has slide guitar — when’s the last time you heard slide in an indie song outside of Beach House? It’s my favorite slide since Johnny Depp played on the B-side version of Oasis’ “Fade Away.”

“Criminals” from Atlas Sound is all layers. It’s more hushed than muffled, but there’s a similar cowering feel that “Black Lake” shares. Both songs benefit from choruses that open up just enough to let in some sun and show us the breadth of their understanding and vision, and then quickly scurry back into the darkness. There are at least five or six guitar parts churning simultaneously, including a number of acoustics and possibly a ukulele as well. It sounds thick as it churns, with Bradford Cox murmuring and cooing above it. It’s an incredible listen.

I love both of these songs, and would love more if people have suggestions. Please share if you do!