I saw Mates of State for the first time in August over in Liberty State Park at the All Points West Music Festival. I’d never heard of them, but we happened to stop by the stage where they were performing, and they impressed me. It’s fun, yet kind of important, indie rock. It’d be great to see them play live again.
Mates of State are a married couple with kids. Here is an ABC news piece on how they manage being rockstar parents. I like their sound. I like their beats and rhythms and their rockin’ melodies. Their latest album (Re-Arrange Us) has my complete attention.
Most of the songs that went on repeat this past year are about relationships. When I say “repeat,” I mean at least five or six times in a row, then I’d switch to another song (usually by Patty Griffin), then I’d go back to the first song for another five or six playings.
“The Re-Arranger” did that to me for at least three weeks. It’s fun to sing along. I appreciate the implications of “re-arranging” relationships and shaking off the anger. (Plus, it fits the recent theme of my life with moving and shifting and making things better. [However, I did say way too many swear words in the past two weeks.]) I love the mantra at the end: “Love loud, don’t lose loud.”
Vodpod videos no longer available. Red colonial houses lining
all the snow white streets
Working out all our problems there
in the back of the house
where the ghosts all sleep
I know it’s impossible
But you should try to shake it off
With that shot to the chest, boy
I know you mean it (you mean it, you mean it, you mean it)
Defining the problems here
It’s the threat at home of regret at home
I know it’s impossible
But you should try to shake it off
And if you really wanna shake it off
You’re gonna re-arrange, re-arrange us
Just stop and shake it off
You’re gonna re-arrange, re-arrange
(Re-arrange, re-arrange, re-arrange, re-arrange us)
Da da da da, da da da da
Da da da da, da da
You were turning in anger
(You’ve got a fury for the smallest things)
She’s staring at the back twin trees
Kicking back all that fury there
(You’ve got to bury it in your head)
to the part of your head where it can live and seethe
I know it’s impossible
But you should try to shake it off
With that shot to chest boy, I know you mean it
(Mean it, you mean it, you mean it, you mean it)
(Staring at the back twin trees
while you’re spinning your anger red)
Now I know what’s inside you,
I know I don’t want you,
I know I don’t want you
I know it’s impossible
But you should try to shake it off
And if you really wanna shake it off
You’re gonna re-arrange, re-arrange us
Just stop and shake it off
You’re gonna re-arrange, re-arrange
(Re-arrange, re-arrange, re-arrange)
Re-arrange us, re-arrange us
Re-arrange us, ooh-ooh-oooh-ooh
Re-arrange us, re-arrange us
Re-arrange us, ooh-ooh-oooh-ooh
Re-arrange us, ooh-ooh-oooh-ooh
Love loud
Don’t lose loud
Love loud
Don’t lose loud
Love loud
Don’t lose loud
Love loud
Don’t lose loud
Re-arrange us
ooh-ooh-oooh-ooh
Re-arrange us
ooh-ooh-oooh-ooh
Love loud
Don’t lose loud
Love loud
Don’t lose loud
Re-arrange us
ooh-ooh-oooh-ooh
Re-arrange us
ooh-ooh-oooh-ooh
You’re the re-arranger
A Little Thinking 