Mates of State Issue #36

Re-Arrange Us (Barsuk)

By Rebekah Meek
Published: August 1st, 2008 | 10:25am

The husband-and-wife team that makes up Mates of State have honed their catchy, synth-pop melodies into a finely crafted art on their fifth full-length album, Re-Arrange Us. Despite being a duo, Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel delicately construct lush melodies built from layers of organ, drum, and vocal harmony tracks.

The opening song, "Get Better," is clear evidence of their evolution as artists. The track starts off simply with a few measures of syncopated organ and builds into a veritable pop anthem with a chorus that chants, "Everything's gonna get lighter, even if it never gets better." The album's namesake track, "The Re-Arranger," starts off sounding like a cross between the Postal Service and Yo La Tengo, but once the chorus hits, it returns to the sound that Mates have made uniquely their own. Additionally, their ever-evolving sound is made even more complex with the accompaniment of a cello, a trumpet, and a handful of backup singers.

The intricacy of their songcraft shows not only on each individual track but in the variety of the record as a whole. While a majority of the songs are easily translated into high-energy performances with sing-along choruses such as "Help! Help! / Can you help! help! Don't hesitate," others such as "Lullabye Haze" and "Blue and Gold Print" are quieter and more melodramatic.

Overall, the record is pretty much what you'd expect from a band that has become the poster-child sound for NPR's This American Life. Perfectly produced, a little bit saccharine sweet, and a promise that one listen on your iPod will get you dancing on even the rainiest of days.