SPIN

7

• SPIN Rating:7 of 10

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Release Date: May 10, 2011
Label: TBD/White Iris

Like their regional brethren Midlake, these Oklahomans seem fascinated by folky Englishmen of yore, though Other Lives lean more toward Fleet Foxes than Fleetwood Mac. There's even a dose of New Roman-ticism on their second album's title track, which could nestle nicely on a John Hughes soundtrack. Jesse Tabish's laid-back, borderline affectless voice can get tiresome, but layers of strings and piano (the droney "Old Statues") or ghostly backing voices (the haunting "As I Lay My Head Down") are usually enough to keep Tamer Animals from feeling too domesticated.