Ridgewood, New Jersey natives, Real Estate, released an eponymous debut album in 2009 on the tastemaking label Woodsist records, and this largely unassuming subdued record was one of my favorite releases of 2009. The band creatively explores familiar themes of youthful disaffection through humble surf-rock melodies and inspired wordplay.
Yet there is something innovative and refreshing about Real Estate that sets them apart from groups like Brand New and Taking Back Sunday who are equally fascinated by their suburban milieus and who had undoubtedly had a marked impact of my angst-ridden identity formation, but who I struggle to listen to now. The acridity and discontent in these latter bands are mostly tiresome exercises in self-flagellation and efforts to immortalize the self. Real Estate seem so much more sincere and sophisticated, and are incredibly noble in the fact they seek no effort to abandon where they came from. TBS is still fixated on "the scene," whereas Real Estate aims to atmospherically capture and subtly critique the environment that has shaped them. Who can deny the slow-building simplicity of the refrain of "Suburban Beverage," - "Budweiser,Sprite/Do you feel alright?"
sell your songs online on July 19, 2010 @ 4:16 PM says:
I love discovering new music and this group is really good. I am glad I came across this blog! This group seems like it is going to make it big very soon!
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ridgewood,nj is the capital of music.