The alt-country indie rock of These United States has a way drawing you in. Lead singer Jesse Elliot’s sultry, twangy croon drives each song, riding upon the band’s velvety slide-guitar laden version of Americana. It’s his laid-back charm that is both heartfelt and open, along with the sophisticated, seasoned sound of the band that catches. At moments I hear Tom Petty, but the closest comparison I can find in current music, is that of Delta Spirit.

Elliot’s writing process arises from his interest in the English language and his desire to create narrative arcs. The songs are filled with stories and characters that reference everything from Custer, Johnny Appleseed, and Jesse James, to Mark Twain and Tecumseh. Elliot conjures up ideas of saddle-riding sinners and silent heroes, all the while loquaciously commenting on everyday existence. As Elliot told NPR, “I’m a big fan of aesthetics, of just the way words sound, the way that phrases string together, the way that we use language.” And referencing the writing process, “It’s a way of coping with the serious amount of information that exists in the world these days. Stitching it together in some big, chaotic patchwork is kind of how I make sense of all the pieces that are flying our way and everyone’s way every day.” The songs are hopeful and demonstrate that These United States are still discovering pieces of gold in our dispirited country.

The band calls both Lexington, Kentucky and Washington, DC home. Elliot is both the founding and core member, filling out his vision with musicians and friends from both locales. He originally formed the group with David Strackany, who records as a singer-songwriter under the name Paleo. In just two years, the band has played 500 plus shows across the U.S., U.K., and northern Europe and appeared at SXSW, the CMJ Music Marathon, and the U.K.’s prestigious Glastonbury Festival.

With their third full-length release in 18 months, These United States are flowing with creative output. Each meticulously crafted album reveals a variety of musical approaches and the care that went into the recording process. They explore a variety of sounds, all riding within enticing southern-edged rock, sometimes soft and subtle, always filled with a sense of well-intentioned urgency. A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden was recorded by Elliott and Strackany in basements and hallways in Elgin, IL, Iowa City, IA, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, IL. Picture was released March 4, 2008 and just 6 weeks later, the band was in a Lexington recording Crimes as they had more material they wanted to work with. Crimes came out that September and received praise from Paste Magazine, Pitchfork Media, and NPR, despite (and in many cases because of) its sonic departure from the group’s debut. In February 2009, the band began recording its third album, Everything Touches Everything, in Arlington, VA, released in September 2009.

mp3: These United States – I Want You To Keep Everything – Everything Touches Everything (2009)
mp3: These United States – The Secret Door – Everything Touches Everything (2009)
mp3: These United States – I Want You To Keep Everything – Crimes (2008)

Experience These United States live at the Hi-Dive on New Year’s Eve w/ Paper Bird in Denver or at SXSW in March.

Website | MySpace

Download through Amazon: A Picture Of The Three Of Us At The Gate To The Garden Of Eden | Crimes | Everything Touches Everything

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 26th, 2009 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Album Reviews, Colorado, Indie, Songs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.