Mates of State tread a fine line of just cute and nauseatingly cute. Vocalist/keyboardist Kori Gardner and vocalist/drummer Jason Hammel are married, two little ones in tow, boy/girl vocals and bouncy tempos. With the frenetic Team Boo and "The O.C."-friendly Bring it Back, they keep the nausea at bay with the often jarring, always entertaining keyboard riffs and thundering drums. Part of the reason why Re-Arrange Us seems a little disappointing is the fact that Gardner switched to a piano and in effect, Hammel's drumming sounds much more subdued. They've mellowed out, music to play to the tots.
However with their single, "My Only Offer" is a bittersweet palette cleanser. It retains the upbeat tempo and the cute boy/girl harmonies but they lyrics reveal the not-so-nice realities of being married: "Oh, It's my only offer / stifled copies of myself / as someone else." The play between the music and the lyrics is successful and charming. Hey, marriage isn't always the kicks.
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