Yours Conditionally
Recommended for:
Fans of Lo-Fi, surf pop
Throwback junkies
Pros:
Catchy as hell
Impressive vocal performances
SHimmery riffs and funky bass
Cons:
Sometimes repetitive
Could use further experimentation
Yours Conditionally is the fourth LP from Denver-based, indie pop band, Tennis. The band is comprised of husband-and-wife duo Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley. The couple met in a philosophy class at the University of Colorado in 2008 and formed the band eight months later after a sailing expedition down the Eastern Atlantic Seaboard. Their first studio album, Cape Dory was released in 2011.
This album has an extremely intriguing sound. History is always repeating itself, and as we all know, this is true with musical stylings as well. To say this album has retro vibes would be an understatement. The music seeps with 70’s pop/rock influence, but as I would hope, it comes through with a modern edge. It’s the type of music that gets your head nodding and your feet tapping.
Almost every aspect of every song on Yours Conditionally is catchy. The distorted guitar riffs and fingerpicking create a shimmery feel that gives a nice lo-Fi, beachy atmosphere to this record, which was perfectly released with summer right around the corner. The bass lines are funky and really give the songs a danceable aspect. The rhythm plays along perfectly with a warm and organic feel, and a lot of shakers and hand claps.
My only complaint is that the tracks can sometimes feel repetitive. If you're not paying close attention while listening, you might not notice when a song ends and the next one begins. But in comparison to some of their older works, Yours Conditionally is still their most diverse work. I think Tennis could push themselves even further and create something really cool with some more experimentation. This record is definitely their best and I think they are heading in the right direction.
Moore’s vocal performances are absolutely badass on this album. According to her bio, she went into college with the intent on going to law school after graduation. We’re lucky she happened to meet Patrick Riley and started singing and writing music instead. Her vocal tone fits the mood of the music perfectly and her range is impressive. Lyrical themes include love, marriage in the modern era, and female empowerment. The modern narrative nicely balances the throwback style of music.
Favorite songs: Ladies Don’t Play Guitar, My Emotions Are Blinding, Modern Woman
7.4/10
