The Morning Benders ' Big Echo' (2010)

1. Excuses
2. Promises
3. Wet Cement
4. Cold War (Nice Clean Fight)
5. Pleasure Sighs
6. Hand Me Downs
7. Mason Jar
8. All Day Day Light
9. Stitches
10. Sleeping In

The Morning Benders are back with their second LP 'Big Echo'. After recently signing to Rough Trade Records some more publicity is bound to ensue, that helped along with the added production value on the new LP from Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor. The Morning Benders, currently a 3-piece from Berkeley California, have been with quite the groups on their tours of late, with artists such as Grizzly Bear, MGMT, Death Cab For Cutie and Yo La Tengo accompanying them.

'Big Echo' opens with the track 'Excuses'. A lovely introduction to the sound of the band with violin being layered with acoustic guitars, bass and steel tapping on the drums. The sound of the band is somewhat a country feel mixed together with a nostalgic 60's style. Favourite tracks on the album for me are the next pair 'Promises' and 'Wet Cement'. Combined vocals, start and stop electric guitars on 'Promises' provide a sound that is clearly mimicked from the Grizzly Bear producer. 'Wet Cement' is a much slower number with some nice picking on the guitar and deep bass drum. The album picks up some pace with 'Cold War', and we are treated to some nice xylophone as well (which seems to be a very popular choice of instrument these days), and slows right down again with 'Pleasure Sighs' which boasts all sorts of emotion in one song with some high pitched vocals. 'Hand Me Downs' feels angry with distorted guitar and loud drumming throughout. More of the same follows on 'Mason Jar' but we get the loud summery tune of 'All Day Day Light' next which would be ideal for driving down the coast in the sunshine. 'Stitches' boasts a long building crescendo throughout showing all the band's various sounds and the album is finished off with closing track 'Sleeping In', a track which begins off very tame but closes well for the end of the album.

For me this is a lovely album. A real summery feel about it and definitely one to check out if you are a fan of the likes Grizzly Bear and anything with a country vibe to the music. I can imagine fans of Mumford and Suns liking this one too, but didn't want to mention their name. Seems fitting with the summer months approaching to be listening to it. I know I certainly enjoy listening to it on the walks to work in the morning.

She & Him - 'Volume Two' (2010)

1. Thieves

2. In the Sun
3. Don't Look Back
4. Ridin' In My Car
5. Lingering Still
6. Me and You
7. Gonna Get Along Without You Now
8. Home
9. I'm Gonna Make It Better
10. Sing
11. Over It Over Again
12. Brand New Shoes
12. If You Can't Sleep

Finally. Yes finally, I got my hands on 'Volume Two'. She & Him's 'Volume One' was released in 2008 and received both positive reviews in the press but also great support from me. So, it was a long anticipated wait for 'Volume Two'. Zooey (Deschanel) and M.Ward are back as the sweet duo making time-warped classics that will leave you feeling like you are listening to music from the 60's. An era Zooey is clearly a fan of.

The one thing that stands out on this album compared to 'Volume One' is Zooey's voice. Prior to this is always seemed somewhat broken, but always worked with the style of music. Before she was an actress turned singer while now she seems to have taken the singing crown. The overall production sounds better and more professional, but never losing the feel of the previous album. Zooey once again takes the song-writing mantle, bar a few covers in the album, and M.Ward accompanies the vocals beautifully as always with his soft guitar and piano.

The album opens with 'Thieves'. Immediately I was amazed by the difference in the opening to 'Volume One' where the vocals took centre stage and let the music come in. With 'Thieves' we are treated to some lovely uplifting guitar from M.Ward and shortly after Zooey joins in with the noticeably better voice than prior. The song is a warming introduction to the album and perfect for a summer afternoon. First release from the album 'In The Sun' follows and, with a little backing vocals from the Tilly and the Wall gang, sounds wonderful. Another upbeat summery song with piano (and various other instruments I can't fully decipher) layer the song together and make it the obviously single choice. 'Don't Look back' and 'Ridin' in My Car' (NRBQ cover) are next and would also be single contenders. Upbeat numbers which really capture the 60's summer feel with M. Ward even contributing some vocals in the process. We are treated to some mandolin in 'Lingering Still' which has Zooey singing in a more similar style to the first album, with a real country feel to the song. 'Me and You' is a downbeat number with slow strings, steel guitar and deep harmonies from M.Ward in the background. 'Gonna Get Along Without You Now', a Skeeter Davies cover, shows exactly the style I would associate with the band. Early 60's doo-wop music. 'Home' seems to be over-crowded with too many instruments during the verses but the choruses change into something music better with the guitar and mandolin sandwiching it all together well. 'I'm Gonna Make it Better' has the feel of the first album with lovely strummed guitar and some little solos on the pedal steel guitar. More doo-wop sounds from Zooey and shows this is the type of song to suit her well. One of my favourites on the album is the next song, 'Sing'. The voice I expect to hear on this album, good backing vocals and softly strummed guitar. 'Over and Over Again' fits in well with the end of album getting closer. Lots of piano on this one providing an upbeat number with backing vocals a plenty. The album ends with 2 slow songs, 'Brand New Shoes' and 'If You Can't Sleep'. As on the previous album it seems like a fitting way to end with Zooey's vocals taking centre stage and the softly playing music in the background to play it out.

I thoroughly enjoyed this album, but feel I was always going to. Fans of the first album will love this one also, as it is much the same. Credit though should be given to Zooey and M.Ward for keeping the feel of the first going. The vocals have been improved and sounds as new and fresh as before, whilst maintaining that 60’s feel. With summer fast around the corner, this is an album to have playing whilst driving down the coast in the sunshine. I now just hope that they don't take so long making 'Volume Three' as they did this one!