“Their songs make you feel like you did at
whatever time in your life when music
made you feel part of something bigger.
When it was easy to drive past your house,
onto the highway, and through some
shadowy neighborhood you'd never seen,
just so you could listen to your favorite
songs on repeat.”
—Molly Priesmeyer, City Pages
No matter the verdict, in the case of Minneapolis’ Story of the Sea, whatever patented sibling telekinesis a quartet can benefit from, the Prince brothers have it in spades.
Bandmates since childhood, Singer/Guitarist/Frontman Adam Prince and kid brother/drummer Ian Prince grew up in a musical family in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A grown-up move to the Twin Cities and various stints in well-known local bands (Manplanet and Houston) eventually led them back to what they know best: each other. They began Story of the Sea as a guitar and drums two-piece, initially noted for Ian’s famous airtight skills on the kit. The brothers then added stand-out bass talent John McEwen from Align to record their first LP.
Lunar Co. is a darker, richer collection of songs than the group’s lauded debut effort Enjoying Fire. No sophomore slump, it’s smartly mixed by J. Robbins, complete with donated tambourine and satisfying, feel-good handclaps over “Own Device”’s plinky coda. The new line-up adds more depth and texture, as expected; a more melodic resonance including some terrific 70’s three-part vocal harmonies and keyboards. The new songs jump around the dial like a best-of mixtape. Adam adeptly directs his band from jagged and urgent (“I’d Like to Meet You”), out through chimey choruses (“Downtown”, “Short Rocker“), and back around to isolated, lush ballads (“Sway”, “Royal Blue”).
So who do they sound like?
No one else specifically, really. Refreshingly.
They’ve been referred to as “genre-hopping” which is true enough, I suppose. There are shades of Jawbox’s trademark onslaught and the similar stage power of frequent bill mates The Life and Times. But there’s also The National’s remote, murky lyrics, and Nada Surf’s soft shimmer, even a Strokes-esque bounce here and there. Their sound is more an amalgamation of their vast personal influences than a pinpointed preexisting one. At times propulsive and anthemic, perfecting the tension and release of great 90’s rock. Other times studded with bouncy Curelike keyboards or a winning Squeeze cover. Chewy pop nuggets to soothe even the most jaded indie critic.
In different hands, for example, a favorite SOTS live staple “Pipe Dreams“ (as yet unrecorded) might have been a simpler emo crescendo (with its windmill-worthy brwaaaang! chords), but its unexpected doowop undercurrent sweeps you away, begging the question: are you a badass enough hipster to shoop like a Pip in a rock club? And that, it seems, then, is their trademark – the sparkle and magic of two songs in one. A bargain at any price. At heart they’re a capital-R rock band; further blessed with shiny pop refinement, subtle soul roots and grooves, and geeky music-store talent. And at their best, they’re a capital-L live band. Ian’s knack for crafting perfect setlists makes for a brawny rumble of a show: each one different from the next, crowdwinning all.
I just wanted to let you know that you can now pick up my debut album "American Nightmare" for only three dollars. A lot of time and work went into the record so I hope you like it!
If you'd like to pick it up, click on the big album cover in the right hand column of my profile.
Fellas, just checking in to see if you've "made it" yet, which would be WELL DESERVED. The crap on the radio doesn't come anywhere near your stuff. I Just have a question - how come your song "Smoking" is not on this page? That's an awesome song that people need to hear - it should be on the radio!!!
Come grab an advanced copy of the new fuzzgrungenoisepop album from my band The Sextons, and as always let me know how I can help out with your next tasty record!
