REVIEW: The Peekers - Life in the Air

If you don't know Shreveport based wunderkinds The Peekers yet, you will soon. They've been kicking around the live scene in Louisiana for awhile now, and their high energy shows (I caught them at The Cake Shop in NYC last year) and catchy tunes have made them a STATIC favorite. For a little more background info, you can catch their interview with STATIC from earlier this year.

Recently the band, a six piece of ridiculously talented, ridiculously young guys and girls, blew up a string of shows at SXSW in support of their newly released debut LP, Life in the Air. The record was released by NOLA locals Park the Van, and features some of the best songwriting I've heard on a debut in forever. Our friend and STATIC creator Wesley sent the record my way last week, and it's been on repeat on my iPod ever since.

From the first vocal harmony on "Your Morning Toast" you realize that despite their aforementioned young ages, The Peekers have a pop sensibility that's usually reserved for bands that have been playing together for years. It's a short track with a hint of melancholy, and I think it perfectly lulls you into submission for the second track, the piano-heavy "Sweet Singin' Birds."

The contrast between the two openers brings to light what is probably the Peekers best asset - they wide range of vocalists at their disposal. One of the most notable things about Life in the Air is that they've got four different vocalists that can all really sing. This allows for lush harmonies in their catchy choruses and totally different emotional tones as the record progresses from song to song. The quality of the first two songs doesn't ever really hit a low point, offering quality pop song after pop song and their grainy aesthetic runs the gambit of influences without ever feeling muddled or confused.

From prohibition-era speak easy romps ("Close My Eyes") to Feist-y meditations ("Favorite Love") to Animal Collective meets Brian Wilson-twinged tracks ("Canoe Trip"), The Peekers do so much so well it's almost like they're showing off. If you haven't heard it yet - do yourself a favor and run out to buy it.

MP3: The Peekers - "Close My Eyes"