Fueled by superb playing and an oddly appealing space-Viking theme (don't ask, just check their MySpace), You Me & Iowa deliver a smart pop record with their first full length release, The Adventures of You Me & Iowa. Led by Andrew Carroll's light vocals, the band sits comfortably between The Beach Boys and Of Montreal, skirting the psychedelic electronica of the latter and erring on the side of a Harvard educated version of the former. (See "Valhalla," likely a reference to the mythological home of the Norse gods. Wagner would be proud.) Like an older, slightly more cynical Vampire Weekend, these boys fill this album to the brim with catchy hooks, tight harmonies and snappy guitar riffs.
Stand out tracks on the album include "Goldfish" with its gorgeous guitar intro, "Tommy Hall" and "Margaret Mourning," minus the synthesizer at the beginning which doesn't seem to quite lock in with the rest of the band. "Margaret Mourning" is also notable with one of the best melodies on the album and the lovely guest vocals by Ashley Powell. Drummer Tony Benedetti keeps the whole affair together with inventive drumming and lays down a few good danceable grooves with bassist Ryan Julio.
Lyrically, You Me & Iowa find themselves a little less than focused, but maybe that's the point. Adrift and more than a little tired of it all, You Me & Iowa hide a sense of longing in their well-packaged, sunny-day pop tunes. On "Valhalla," Carroll croons, "Six hundred years, we have come so long and come so far. Bye, bye. Bury me." If The Adventures… is any indication of things to come, history will do anything but bury You Me & Iowa.
--Mark Sanderlin [May 13, 2008]
