Real Estate was formed in Ridgewood, New Jersey by singer/guitarist Martin Courtney, guitarist Matt Mondanile (Ducktails), bassist Alex Bleeker (of Alex Bleeker and the Freaks), and drummer Etienne Pierre Duguay in 2008. In 2011 Jackson Pollis replaced Duguay on drums and Jonah Maurer joined the band on keys and guitar.
After issuing singles on the Underwater Peoples and Woodsist labels, the band's 2009 self-titled debut received critical acclaim, including an 8.5 rating and Best New Music tag from Pitchfork Media. Review aggregator Metacritic gave the album a normalised rating of 79%, indicating "generally favourable reviews". Tours followed supporting acts such as Girls, Kurt Vile, Woods, and Deerhunter. In 2010, Real Estate performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago and the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona. In 2012, Real Estate performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California and the Pitchfork Music festival in Chicago.
In 2011, Real Estate signed with the Domino Recording Company. The group issued their sophomore record, Days, on October 18, 2011. The album received positive reviews, including a rating of 76% on Metacritic and 8.7 on Pitchfork.
Some of my thoughts…
This band is a wonderful example of something I should have checked out a year ago. Someone I spitefully respect recommended them back in 2011. Now that it is old news, I must refrain from telling others about the band. I missed the boat.
Some of their geographic contemporaries are Titus Andronicus (these guys are amazing) and Vivian Girls. During 2012, they opened for The Shins in NYC.
I would classify these guys as a modern indie psych pop (vague enough?).
I would recommend the following tracks:
· It’s Real
· Easy
· Wonder Years
A parting note…check out Titus Andronicus as well.
I like all these songs - very good!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THIS! Thanks for introducing me to another great band! I will keep listening and give a more in depth answer later. Interesting all the U2 songs on their Pandora station. You really should try them again. Don't make me make them BOTW.
ReplyDeleteToo late. I killed the U2 BOTW last year. If anyone is going to resurrect that BOTW, it will be me.
ReplyDeleteSo what are the rules of BOTW? Since I was not a participator last year, I can't pick bands that were used last year? Hmmmm.
ReplyDeletePoppycock, you can do whatever band you want. Just don't be surprised if Dan links posts to Bono and The Edge in compromising positions.
ReplyDelete