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Much has been made of the fairytale evolution of Mates of State, the husband/wife team of Kori Gardner (organ, vocals) and Jason Hammel (drums, vocals). To be fair, who wouldn’t want to fall in love and marry their beautiful and talented best friend, tour together, and share their adorable harmonies with audiences around the world? Bring it Back is the couple’s fourth full-length, and it showcases their growth as musicians and songwriters. While their signature call-and-response vocals remain intact, there’s a darkness to Gardner’s left hand, making it richer and more intriguing than their earlier work. It’s peppered with standouts like ‘Think Long’ and some speed bumps like ‘Nature and the Wreck’, a song that ends in — no joke — baby noises, presumably created by the couple’s infant daughter, Magnolia. Baby babble aside, this is a solid release that makes you want to drop the cynical crap and, well, cuddle a little bit.
