Main Thing, The
Reviews
Francis D
Reviewed 2020-07-18
Reviewed 2020-07-18
“The Main Thing” Real Estate
New Jersey-based indie pop rock band’s 5th album. The usual warmth, jangle and familiar guitar tones — with added complexity and Real Estate’s meticulous attention to the final mix. All from a band that has become tighter-knit even as life has seen the members become more geographically dispersed. Their most ambitious album yet, and very well done.
— Francis
Recommended: 2, 1, 8, 11, 6, 5, 4, 12. FCC on Track 2 has been edited.
1. (4:57) Friday — Lush, swirling synth, with prominent bass line and strummy electric guitar. Smooth, seamless vocals from Martin Courtney. Slightly off-kilter beat. ****
2. (4:30) Paper Cup (feat. Sylvan Esso) (Radio Edit) — Opens with a synth cry. More jagged jangle over a guitar-laden, bongo-infused tune. Strings and synths give it a laid-back feeling. ****
3. (3:13) Gone — Moody, measured tempo. Bass out front, splashed with guitar to give the song a bit of a “cinematic scope,” according to the band.
4. (3:52) You — More of a jam band feeling to this one. Bass line switches back and forth. Nice guitar work throughout. Alex Bleeker on bass and vocals. ***
5. (2:22) November — Road song. Mid-tempo, fun, melodic tune. Layered, reverbed vocals. Rich keyboards. ***
6. (4:31) Falling Down — Chimey and breezy. Strings have a bit of a melancholy feeling. ***
7. (5:23) Also A But — Soft, smooth and flowing — mellow. Harpsichord-like chimes. Dreamy vocals. Prog-rock build-up toward the end.
8. (2:35) The Main Thing — Sharp and bright, up-tempo guitar-based pop. Repeating guitar signatures with snappy drums. Orchestral backing. Lively guitar solo in lead break. ****
9. (4:14) Shallow Sun — Intriguing guitar progressions. Busy bass line. High lilting “ooh – ooh” backing vocals. Strings in lead breaks.
10. (1:49) Sting — Instrumental. Piano-based with gently tapping rhythm track in the far background. Segues directly into next track.
11. (4:42) Silent World — Very catchy pop-rock. Strummed electric guitar, with slide guitar riffs, strings and warm lead vocals. ****
12. (3:31) Procession — Strummy and jangly, with a bit of a stop-and-go rhythm integrating bass and drums. **
13. (2:55) Brother — Instrumental. Strummed, slightly jazzy coda. Lots of reverb.
New Jersey-based indie pop rock band’s 5th album. The usual warmth, jangle and familiar guitar tones — with added complexity and Real Estate’s meticulous attention to the final mix. All from a band that has become tighter-knit even as life has seen the members become more geographically dispersed. Their most ambitious album yet, and very well done.
— Francis
Recommended: 2, 1, 8, 11, 6, 5, 4, 12. FCC on Track 2 has been edited.
1. (4:57) Friday — Lush, swirling synth, with prominent bass line and strummy electric guitar. Smooth, seamless vocals from Martin Courtney. Slightly off-kilter beat. ****
2. (4:30) Paper Cup (feat. Sylvan Esso) (Radio Edit) — Opens with a synth cry. More jagged jangle over a guitar-laden, bongo-infused tune. Strings and synths give it a laid-back feeling. ****
3. (3:13) Gone — Moody, measured tempo. Bass out front, splashed with guitar to give the song a bit of a “cinematic scope,” according to the band.
4. (3:52) You — More of a jam band feeling to this one. Bass line switches back and forth. Nice guitar work throughout. Alex Bleeker on bass and vocals. ***
5. (2:22) November — Road song. Mid-tempo, fun, melodic tune. Layered, reverbed vocals. Rich keyboards. ***
6. (4:31) Falling Down — Chimey and breezy. Strings have a bit of a melancholy feeling. ***
7. (5:23) Also A But — Soft, smooth and flowing — mellow. Harpsichord-like chimes. Dreamy vocals. Prog-rock build-up toward the end.
8. (2:35) The Main Thing — Sharp and bright, up-tempo guitar-based pop. Repeating guitar signatures with snappy drums. Orchestral backing. Lively guitar solo in lead break. ****
9. (4:14) Shallow Sun — Intriguing guitar progressions. Busy bass line. High lilting “ooh – ooh” backing vocals. Strings in lead breaks.
10. (1:49) Sting — Instrumental. Piano-based with gently tapping rhythm track in the far background. Segues directly into next track.
11. (4:42) Silent World — Very catchy pop-rock. Strummed electric guitar, with slide guitar riffs, strings and warm lead vocals. ****
12. (3:31) Procession — Strummy and jangly, with a bit of a stop-and-go rhythm integrating bass and drums. **
13. (2:55) Brother — Instrumental. Strummed, slightly jazzy coda. Lots of reverb.
Recent airplay
Sting
KZSU Time Traveler — Jun 07, 2024
Brother
KZSU Time Traveler — Sep 16, 2022
Friday
KZSU Time Traveler — Aug 12, 2022
Friday
Magnetized Toner (rebroadcast from Sep 3, 2020) — Dec 09, 2021
The Main Thing
Rebroadcast: Magnetized Toner — Mar 11, 2021
Friday
Magnetized Toner — Sep 03, 2020
Charting
2020-08-17 — 2020-10-19
Track listing
| 1. | Friday | ||
| 2. | Paper Cup (Feat. Sylvan Esso) (Radio Edit) | ||
| 3. | Gone | ||
| 4. | You | ||
| 5. | November | ||
| 6. | Falling Down | ||
| 7. | Also A But | ||
| 8. | The Main Thing | ||
| 9. | Shallow Sun | ||
| 10. | Sting | ||
| 11. | Silent World | ||
| 12. | Procession | ||
| 13. | Brother |