The 1900s: Cold and Kind

I hear so much new music every day that I’ve developed a pretty discerning ear. There are times I might be too hasty in my judgment of a new group and miss out on their music at first. Rarely does a song so catch my attention that I know for sure the artist will soon be one of my favorites. With the 1900s’ debut album Cold and Kind, I was hooked from the first track. “No Delay” is one of the best album openers I’ve come across this year. At only 1:50 long, it combines unconventional time signatures with deep harmonies and a warm sound. It’s the perfect introduction to an album: it gives you an idea of the risks the band is willing to take, and leaves you needing more. It’s the type of track that might usually be found at the end of an album, but its placement at the front gives the album a personal and inviting feel.

“Georgia,” the second track, has a completely different vibe but doesn’t disappoint. It has a simpler and catchier melody, and the singer sounds different. It reminds me of Tea Leaf Green - poppy but with a conscious, the type of music that feels like it could break out at any moment. The next track “When I Say Go” changes direction again. Featuring a female singer, it sounds a little like Carole King singing Feist. The 1990s continue to mix things up with tracks like “When We Lay Down,” an instrumental shuffle, and “Aculiplantar Dude,” a psychadelic, bittersweet elegy to a friend who died of a drug overdose.

Although the band experiments with diverse sounds on Cold and Kind, the album is cohesive and each song benefits from the songs around it. It’s a musically personal album, and you get the feeling that the band members are all utilized to their full potentials. Overall the album reminds me of the Bowerbirds. Both groups feature male and female singers who sound great together in harmony, and songs with unique melodies and strong arrangements. I highly recommend keeping up with the group and giving the album a listen.

The 1900s - No Delay

The 1900s - Georgia

The 1900s - When I Say Go

-Danny