Artist: Real Estate
Album: Days
Label: Domino Records
Release Date: October 18, 2011
Review by: Sean Kayden
Real Estate’s latest effort, “Days” is breezy, tight, sharp and laid back. It’s a bit more upbeat than their previous eponymous record back in 2009. This time around, the band finds themselves on a bigger label (Domino Records) with higher production values to boot. However, they don’t always fully utilize the higher production sound and often revert back to their lo-fi sonic landscape. One thing is certain; Real Estate has a very unique sound, even if it’s simplistic. There is both a cool and collective vibe to their disposition. The songs here are wistful, 60s inspired (Beach Boys style) and guitar-driven. From track to track, the record has this strange ability to lift you from your bed (where you’ll be when enjoying this kind of album) and have you floating aimlessly in mid air. “Days” is more comprehensive than Real Estate’s first record. However, more times than not, the songs here seem interchangeable to those on their debut. While not a terrible thing, it shows Real Estate displaying smaller growth than previously anticipated.
The biggest problem I have here is that while the record is ten tracks, two of the tracks actually debuted well over a year ago. What we’re left here is eight brand new songs. Given the nature of Real Estate’s arrangements (and sometimes repetitious sound) the record flies by. I mean, of course none of this matters if this is your first introduction to the band. By the end of the album, Real Estate sort of staggers to the finish line. “Younger Than Yesterday”, which made its first appearance on a previous EP record, feels a bit limp. It drags and easily the one track you’ll skip over. The final track, “All The Same” goes on for over seven minutes and the last four are purely dreamy and atmospheric, but rather anticlimactic. If it were only shorter in duration or separated into two songs then maybe it could work. Sadly, the payoff isn’t worth the wait. Before you know it, the album ends and it ends on a whimper. Despite the knock, there are a multitude of fine, well-crafted moments to be heard. Your best bet is to play this album on shuffle and hope to avoid the aforementioned song.
“Out of Tune”, which debuted last year, is a different story. Even a year later, this may be the best Real Estate song in their personal repertoire. Not surprisingly, the two stronger tracks off “Days” are the ones under three minutes. “It’s Real” and “Wonder Years” are the songs why you’re a fan and true believer of this band in the first place. Real Estate was built for quick, chill, 3-minute plus tunes. In the end, “Days” is no groundbreaking affair, but it’s ingrained with wistfulness, warmth and a soul. Airy, light, and reflective, the surf-pop/garage-pop resonance surprisingly works better in the brisk fall season than it would have in the glory days of summer. It may not grasp new listeners, but certainly please the ears of previous fans.
Key Tracks: “It’s Real”, “Out Of Tune”, “Municipality” and “Wonder Years”
Grade: 7.4 out of 10
Published on October 29th, 2011 by Mountain Views News
http://mtnviewsnews.com/v05/htm/n44/p11.htm
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