So my father is hip. He’s thrown around the term “with it” a couple of times and I’ve caught him reading Gawker and Jezebel while a used and abused Wall Street Journal sits wrinkled in front of him at his desk. He’s not one of those other dads, he’s a cool dad (Mean Girls reference anyone? eh eh?). I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve been introduced to many a new artist from him over the past couple of years. I remember one morning waking up while being home for the holidays and hearing Animal Collective playing from the family room. Confused, I went to find the source and there was my father sitting in his reading chair with the paper listening to a band I associated with my Mary Jane lovin’roommate at the time. He then informed me that not only had he just purchased the new Animal Collective album, but he had also downloaded The xx’s freshman album and Fever Ray’s. I hadn’t even downloaded these artists yet. I was dumbfounded and embarrassed for myself. Needless to say my dad earned some points in my book that day. Since then we’ve been exchanging music and emerging artists are often a source of conversation between us. Today I’d like to introduce you to a band my dad suggested I listen to this past week, the Divine Fits.
A side project while their respective bands are spending time away from the studio, Divine Fits is Britt Daniel of Spoon and Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade and Sam Brown. Formed earlier this year, the Fits are already many critics artists to watch. Their sound is reminiscent of the member’s previous bands: guitars and low-fi synths come together to make an urgent plunge into the alternate minimalist rock world. Boeckner’s odd blend of falsetto and spoken song on the album’s introductory track is blunt and a little off-putting considering he’s crooning “My love is real until it stops.” This bluntness, however, mimics the band’s acoustics. A simple kick-drum and synth bass rhythm carries us flatline through the song while light keyboard sounds give the track its playfulness. I found myself saying “yes, yes, yes” after this track cut off and immediately went into the second. Nothing the Fits do is overdone, showy, or unnecessary.
It’s all very tongue and cheek with the Divine Fits. In all honesty, this track and the rest of the album, A Thing Called Divine Fits, is one of the best things I’ve heard all year. As much as I love the member’s previous bands, I’m crossing my fingers that this project keeps its momentum. Their sonic formula is right on target; tightly packaged and promptly delivered. Here’s to hoping they don’t end as abruptly as this track does.
