Download: Now, Now, ‘Dead Oaks’

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Many things have happened since the release of Now, Now‘s 2008 debut “Cars.” The Minneapolis-based band is no longer fresh out of high school, and they’ve dropped the “Every Children” from their name. They’ve also signed to Chris Walla’s label Trans- Records and ended up working with producer Howard Redekopp (Tegan and Sara, An Horse, New Pornographers) for a matured sound on their sophomore effort “Threads.” Cacie Dalager, Jess Abbott and Brad Hale are still young, (Dalager’s vocals won’t ever lose that innocently sweet charm), but even in short new songs like “Dead Oaks” (a mere 1 minute 41 seconds), it’s hard to deny this is pop music that has carefully been constructed with layers and concision. Unpretentious lyrics initially seem like the most simple part, but as soon as the drums and harmonies come in, those words – and the way Dalager has them neatly syncopated – are the cherry on top of the trio’s spry offerings.

|| Stream: “Dead Oaks”

||| Live: Now, Now plays tonight at the Observatory and Wednesday at the Wiltern with the Naked and the Famous and Vacationer.