Bringing It Back

"Forget all your politics for a while" may be the most beautiful opening lines in a song or album this year. That's all it took to make me fall in love with this band again.

Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel are Mates of State - an indie-pop band, wife-husband duo, yadda yadda yadda. You've probably read that before.

If there's anything you need to know about their music is - be prepared. Prepared to get happy. To dance. Smile. And forget your politics. Just for a little while. Or at least long enough get lost in their syncopated rhythm and harmonious melodies.

Their brilliant 2006 album Bring It Back still remains one of my personal favorites this past two years. And with their new release Re-Arrange Us, Kori and Jason are touring again which is excuse enough to keep this fan satisfied.