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Eleven years ago, Mates of State released their debut studio album, My Solo Project, which consisted of 12 tooth-achingly sweet indie-pop organ-and-drum songs by husband and wife duo Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel. Mates of State built momentum and continued to pump out fantastic records, Our Constant Concern in 2002, Team Boo in '03, All Day in '04, Bring It Back in '06 and the widely regarded as a miss-step, Re-arrange Us in '08. Re-arrange Us got extremely mixed reviews mostly stemming from the fact that Gardner dropped the electric organ in favor of the smoother classical piano sound which didn't sit quite right with fans of the band.

A decade after their first album came out, Mates of State have released a new record called Mountaintops, a refreshing indie-pop album that returns to the band's original two-piece organ-and-drum roots. The harmonies have become somehow even more sugar-sweet, and the songs are poppy, happy, and well put-together. The band has often been cited as saying "We attach parts together until they make a whole song," in reference to the patchwork style of their previous songs, which certainly added to the band's charm and unique sound, but Mates of State proved that they can use a more refined sound and still stay true to themselves! I'll admit that after 2008's flopped record, I was slightly nervous to listen to Mountaintops, but immediately upon the first few bars of the opening song "Palomino" I was able to breathe a huge sigh of relief! We got our good 'ole Mates of State back, horray!

The album is fantastic, and examines the everyday trials that come with having spent your entire adult life to date in a band with your siginificant other. "At Least I Have You", my favorite track on the record, shines an honest light on a topic that many bands touch on from time to time, feeling disconnected from friends, family and familiar places, and realizing that the thing you've devoted your life to, music, is the only thing that is able to bring you joy or release. The record explores themes of desperation, isolation, being broke, and codependence, all while keeping the charm and adorably-in-love image at maximum. Gardner and Hammel have long since quit their day-jobs and have spent a decade touring and recording and rinsing and repeating, and have managed to raise two children all the while. Their song "Basement Money" takes an honest look at the very hush-hush topic of having to make money off of their art, something that very few indie bands are ballsy enough to talk about.

Mountaintops is a fantastic record all the way through, and Mates of State manage to grow and expand within their very own trend-less and wonderfully uncool niche. If you have been a fan of Mates in the past, but like many were turned off by 2008's Re-arrange Us, do yourself a favor and give them another go with Mountaintops, you won't be sorry! For those of you who have never listened to Mates of State before, if you're a fan of bands like The Apples in Stereo, The Stills, The Weakerthans, or Ben Kweller, give Mates of State a try, I think you'll be pleasently surprised with what you hear!

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