The Standard Albatross. Release Date : October 4, 2005. Label: Yep Roc Records. Rating: Andy doesn't dig rating stuff. This band blows my mind. After being introduced to them not that long ago by a member of Fury and the Mouse, I fell quickly in love, tracked them down, and was suprised to see they had a fairly new release on the table. So naturally, I tracked down the label, had the disc sent on out to HeadCorders, and made an attempt to see the band live in Seattle. Well, Seattle was thwarted by other gigs unfortunately, but the music lives on in CD form, and I have to say, it's a startling and varying follow-up to the other two albums I very soon had found myself in possession of. The thing about The Standard is their ability to (for their entire existence, mind you, not just with this newer album) have a sound that fits in easily with the current crop of synth-laden, hooky, there-and-gone hipster new-new-wave rock that's clogging the planet right now - but in a timeless manner. That of course doesn't mean that many folks at all have ever heard of this band, and that's a bloody shame. They have a danceable quality to them, but they pepper those well-crafted snappy songs with low, soft ballads. From lilty pianos and a voice warbled with sorrow, to thudding drums and a voice warbled with tense energy. From bizarre synth noises, to layers of background instruments, to jarringly-switched moods mid-song, to subtle guitar melodies that are so absurdly simple it seems almost unfair they can get away with it... one note here, then another with a full two bars between... a drone in the background... a barely-changing ebb of sounds that you only notice when you're actually paying attention to it. Lyrics that sound so good together you just want to repeat them everywhere you go, even though no one will understand what you mean. Oddly haunting, softly old-school. The band has a hint of Up-era REM in it at times, particularly in "A Curtain Drawn." The music soars even through its sadder moments. But again, that voice gets to me. It's touching and delicious and thick with emotion, tangible emotion. anyhow, bottom line, creative, scintillating band with a never-ending trove of interestingly-arranged music, omnipresent pianos, and vocals to just faint to. This band should be huge by now! Let's make them huge! Please check out The Standard on the Cordmag Audio Player. Song of choice : This one's a tie. I've chosen one from each realm of their sound. "Hills Above" for the soft, gentle stuff (and fabulous lyrics!), and "Little Green" for, again, amazing words as well as a perfect, unexpected guitar riff on the chorus and a sudden leap-off-a-cliff partway through the tune. What was that song about Where the eagle fliiiiiies on a mountain hiiiigh... for some reason that springs to mind. Hah! Man that's funny. I think that's just because I saw that song as part of some animated thing one time and the visuals spring into my head during this song. I think it was from Alvin and the Chipmunks. Good grief. Anyhow, touching words in "Not Asleep" like so I fall deeper into who I'm with/ because it's the best thing I ever did kind of bring that tune to a close second in the gentle category. And the thrumming vibe of "Play The Part" takes that close to the top of the heap for the sharper tunes. More fantastic words! I drink just enough that I can't relax / I get too a point where the blood runs fast/ I watch clocks gain seconds while I grow thin / I spend nights in a commune of sin / I break water without a hope of birth / I said things uncaring of what they're worth / I stay awake because I have one good ear / I stay awake because I have for years / I get higher, I get higher still / because there's nothing between me and my will. So, I have four favourite songs on this album. It's impossible to choose. -Andy Scheffler Elsewhere The Standard website Published : March, 2006.