Nurses

Nurses 2000’s - 2010’s indie rock first song that reeled me in: “Trying to Reach You” Dracula, 2011.

Hangin’ on Nothin’ But Our Hands Down (2007)

Their first album kicks us off with “And Now the Curse of Marjorie”. The unnatural Radiohead sound (from the music, not the vocals, I assure you) gives way quickly (and somewhat disappointingly) to the music that better matches the previously strained vocals. Everything falls a bit more naturally into place as a classic 2000’s sound takes over altogether. Think: Ludo’s “Love Me Dead”, only more shallow and not as catchy. AFI’s “Miss Murder” comes to mind (don’t come for me, fellow Millennials), only on cheaper equipment. Which I’m sure it was - this is, after all, their first album. And I’m not hating on them or cheap equipment - but there’s a way to camouflage the price tag from the public at large (me, with absolutely no musical training).

The rest of the album is a bit of a manic conversion from Ludo to something more akin to The Unicorns with high vocals and strange lilts. Reminds me of the song “Love Rhymes With Hideous Car Wreck” by The Blood Brothers, but less produced. There’s even a track (“Hungry Mouth”) that has vocals/general sound throwing back to some Dan Boeckner-led Wolf Parade jams. Which I would normally adore! If the album was just a little more copasetic. It just feels like they don’t know what they’re trying to be / who they are and are, in turn, trying their darndest to be everything all at once. 

I must say, this first album came as quite a surprise. The song that hooked me into Nurses (released a mere 4 years later) is so much more …well, less, in a way. I look fondly back on plenty of early 2000’s jams / artists / albums, but this is the sound I try my best to avoid. It all just sounds like the same nothing, at a certain point. So convoluted and needlessly complicated. Like the try-hard bartender with the man-bun who reminisces about his time in New Zealand as he pulls out fermented celery root syrup for your 19-step beverage. And his very own aloe vera leaf to garnish. I’m more of a gin & tonic kind of gal. Just not my thing. 

Apple’s Acre (2009)
As is pretty typical, the next album was released two years after the first. This one already has a more polished overall feel. The music matches the vocals. The vocals are all one theme throughout. This is more a happy mix of Foster the People, Of Montreal, Animal Collective. Only, dreamier. (“Water” by Jamaican Queens comes to mind, only less lyric-forward.) With their own, original, optimistic beat as the backbone. It immediately feels less like they are trying to force a body of words to a tune. This novel, masquerading as lyrics. To tell the story now, they are using music and sounds, which I greatly appreciate. Not a show-stopping collection, by any means, but very cool. I have officially found another album I can happily play all the way through while I go through a yoga / meditation / cleaning routine at my apartment. 

Dracula (2011)

This album has very much the same refreshing, good jams in the backyard on a summer night atmosphere as the track that reeled me in. With almost a curious edge. Nearly mischievous, perhaps. Your crush was invited to this backyard shindig as a hail-mary and… here she is. Luckily you’re on your second beer, so you’re at your most relaxed and charming.