mates of state

team boo

'There are no tricks up the sleeves of Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel. Their love for their music and each other is forthright and unabashed. What you see is what you get. They are a happy band turned happy spouses. Add in the assistance of John Vanderslice, Jim Eno, John Croslin and a handful of other musicians and you've got the bastard Partridge Family of the 21st Century.

You can't imagine music sounding any happier than this. They've got an organ, drums, and the most unrestrained harmonies of which any band could possibly conceive. For the most part, the progressions lean towards poppy major chords.

Any of Kori's intros could segue into a new theme song for "Cheers." Jason's off-tempo drumming gives the music its indie tinge. Together, with the assistance of their all-star caliber musical ensemble, all of the Mates of State songs are sing-alongs - once you get used to the cryptic lyrics and inside jokes.

"Team Boo," the band's third record, is another high-quality MoS release, packed with the band's trademark drastic tempo and rhythm changes and ?berpoppy vocal harmonies. Kori's left hand always knows what her right hand is doing. She fills in well for the missing bass parts in the band but also plays catchy leads with the higher organ parts.

The only valid criticism a fan of the band could come up with is that this record still lives in the shadow of "My Solo Project," their first full-length release. "My Solo Project" defined the MoS sound and, while bordering on early Rainer Maria, minus the guitar, it was something wholly new and novel. "Team Boo" continues to do little to distinguish itself from that.

The new MoS songs are interesting and clever and entirely on par with their first effort. All they need to do now is to find that one trick to take them a level higher.