Mates of State

Mountaintops (Barsuk)

Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel have re-embraced the organ-meets-drum dynamic for their quirky, lo-fi indie-pop. Mountaintops, the pair’s seventh studio album, feels like a long mash note between the long-married couple, charting the highs and lows of connubial (sometimes) bliss. The melancholy “Unless I’m Led,” a tale of loneliness in partnership, is paired with the adorable “Total Serendipity,” which leads out with a sly sung “unicorns!” that feels like a wink at the duo’s hearts-and-flowers image. Singing sometimes borders on yelling, but the promised heights reach their summit. (Sun., 3:20pm, Orange stage)

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This article appears in November 4 • 2011.

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