Mountaintops

Mates of State (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Barsuk
• ASIN: B005CAAW4W
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,149 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Palomino

2. Maracas

3. Sway

4. Unless I'm Led

5. Total Serendipity

6. Basement Money

7. At Least I Have You

8. Desire

9. Change

10. Mistakes

Editorial Reviews

Mates of State have made a new album called Mountaintops. You already love Jason and Kori's unmistakable music, or perhaps you've managed to miss out or have simply misunderstood just how great--and yes, influential--they and their sound and their songs are. You throw the record on the stereo and the first thing you notice is the energy and force of it:Go slightly deeper and you find the song-craft. You find that Kori is one of the best female singers in modern music (and Jason is also no slouch). You notice the effortless way their voices harmonize and volley back and forth, the movements within the song, the way they move from upbeat to pastoral so fluidly that you don't perceive it happening. Their instruments and voices all move as one piece, inseparable. Through the years, the textures have become more intricate, deeper. They've begun throwing in the occasional trumpet or guitar, but it is still stunning how much they can do with just keyboards and drums.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Mates of State - Mountaintops September 15, 2011

By Luke Robinett

Format:Audio CD

This time around, indie duo Mates Of State offer up a charming blend of their signature bouncy hooks, lyrics that cover a broader range of emotions, and a diverse sonic palette to keep things interesting. Augmenting their usual organ-heavy attack with oddball keyboard lines, new wave synth textures and some sequenced percussion, the album has a unique charm and doesn't closely resemble the vibe of any previous Mates album. Lyrically, this may be their most direct, accessible songwriting to date, exploring territory seldom-charted before - loneliness, confusion and a longing for the past. That's not to say they don't deliver their usual sugar-coated rush of fun -- it's still here in spades. Upbeat rockers like "Marracas" and "Sway" should land themselves into many a fan's personal "Best Of" playlist. Some of the balladry and melancholia of 2008's Re-Arrange Us finds its way into the track list, but for the most part, it sits well. Over all, while it's not the best work in the group's catalog, it's certainly a solid album with plenty of new sounds and themes to sink your teeth into.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lalalalalalalalalalalalalalala la October 7, 2011

By Markus Rauchenwald

Format:Audio CD

I always thought their marriage must be going quite well. They pack the catchiness of three pop songs into one and remain fresh-faced and clear-eyed even when their central optimism gives way to personal and monetary reflection. This being their seventh album their basic drums/keyboards instrumentation expands even more, resulting in a compact, old-fashioned sound that - with its exuberant choruses and movements within songs - takes some sorting out. The key is to just let it roll. Let them take you home.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not my cup of tea February 5, 2013

By J. L.

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I heard one of the songs on a favorite show and after listening to it in full decided to buy the CD. I have say that Mates of State is not really my favorite thing to listen too.