Band To Watch: The 1900s
Chicago psych-pop septet the 1900s have enough members that their songs can effortlessly slide across styles (coke 'n' rhinestone country, urban pastoral garage, straight-up boy/girl belting), filling a room while remaining breezy 'n' easy, even when dropping lines like "You said you'd never want to take it from behind from boys / but pride starts wasting away before your youth" in the chiming, bouncing, tambourine 'n' piano tapping "Georgia." The dozen tracks on Cold & Kind, the follow-up to last year's Plume Delivery EP, layer strong harmonies over vintage keys, piano, strings, and the rest of the rock 'n' roll sink. Sometimes we hear Belle & Sebastian covering 10,000 Maniacs; at others their named influences Fleetwood Mac (in those swaggering, calming voices) and Velvet Underground (the guitars!) raise their royal heads. Or, how about Nico's "These Days" sped and filtered through youthful Roky psych rollicking in "Two Ways"? (We've posted the track below along with the aforementioned "Georgia" for your closer inspection…)
The 1900s - "Georgia" (MP3)
The 1900s - "Two Ways" (MP3)
Yup, the six EP songs hinted at something. This full-length debut should deliver the 1900s to an audience outside the British twee bedsitters. Or they'll just have to get a bigger bed.
Cold & Kind is out 10/02 on Parasol.
Posted at 5:08 PM in Band To Watch, MP3
Tags: The 1900s
I agree, these guys are great. Caught them opening for Iron & Wine. Good Stuff.
Posted by: uwmryan at August 16, 2007 5:21 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Been on to them for over a year now. Great to see that they're finally getting the attention they deserve. Guess that means I gotta' find another band to call my own...
Posted by: JLoco at August 16, 2007 5:32 PM | ReplyScore = 0
nice sounds but please no kissing in band photos ewwwwww
Posted by: ew at August 16, 2007 5:40 PM | ReplyScore = 0
I saw them opening for Iron and Wine too! They're fantastic and I've been trying to hunt down a CD for the longest time now.
Posted by: Ashley at August 16, 2007 6:03 PM | ReplyScore = 0
"I'll see you at the lights" is a great song, too
Posted by: Alex at August 16, 2007 6:11 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Holy Toledo! These guys are something special. Thanks.
Well done Stereogum! 98% of what you guys post here is risible undifferentiated indie-clone filler like Devendra Cab for Modest Social Scene, but the occasional winner like this keeps me reading.
Posted by: Grobian at August 16, 2007 6:19 PM | ReplyScore = 0
They were selling "Cold And Kind" at Lollapalooza. I didn't go, but a friend of mine who was bought me the album. It's pretty fantastic. The harmonies in the chorus of "Cold and Kind" are worth the price of admission alone.
Posted by: Jon at August 16, 2007 6:32 PM | ReplyScore = 0
1900s? 1990s?
is 19__s this year's "wolf"
Posted by: nick at August 16, 2007 7:38 PM | ReplyScore = 0
There was another band from Illinois called 1997 who was just signed as well...
Chicago is producing too much talent right now. Soon, everyone will be over Illinois...which sucks because I live in Chicago.
Posted by: Frank at August 16, 2007 8:29 PM | ReplyScore = 0
@Ashley - you can get their records from Parasol Records or at their website here: http://www.the-1900s.com/store.htm
Posted by: a at August 16, 2007 8:45 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Thanks A. (!)
It is a 19_ _ s year. But...1997 is super lame. They're half interesting at a first listen, and immediately boring afterwards.
Posted by: Ashley at August 16, 2007 10:16 PM | ReplyScore = 0
1990s
Posted by: matt at August 17, 2007 10:10 AM | ReplyScore = 0
What? No mention of their Franzy roots?
Posted by: Melissa at August 17, 2007 7:27 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i thought this band was from glasgow, scotland?
i've seen them a few times supporting bands in belfast
Posted by: trev at August 18, 2007 6:28 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Trev they are. Two of the band members played with some of the guys in Franz Ferdinand before forming this band.
Posted by: Melissa at August 18, 2007 12:29 PM | ReplyScore = 0
This band is the The 1900's and they are from Chicago...the 1990's are from Scotland , 2 different bands...got it ?
Posted by: HG Wells at August 23, 2007 11:03 PM | Replyand their names are no doubt just a coincidence , shit happens...
ok ..as you were....
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