MATES OF STATEMATES OF STATE

Mountaintops

[Barsuk]

Thirteen years and seven albums in, Mates of State—the married duo of keyboardist Kori Gardner and drummer Jason Hammel—still sound like lovestruck teens on their latest self-produced effort. Their voices volley back and forth among bouncing, bubbling synth lines, crashing cymbals and lyrics like “You’re a pot of gold and you’re sitting at the rainbow’s edge” (from the girl group–inspired “Total Serendipity”). While that effervescence and wide-eyed enthusiasm can come off as the indie-rock equivalent of a quirky rom-com, it’s not all playtime here. Mountaintops shows newfound lyrical depth—especially on the final three tracks, which unfold like an interconnected mini-epic and tackle the album’s themes of struggle and striving head-on. Longtime fans may wish there were more clap-your-hands tunes about hanging out in the basement, but as Hammel sings on “Change,” “Change is gonna come and set you free.” In other words, enjoy the climb. –Jesse Thompson

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