by Ryan Getz | iamtunedup.com
Let me begin by sharing a bit of background behind the Chico, CA based band known as Surrogate. You might best know the guys from their stint as members of Number One Gun, who released notable records on Tooth and Nail Records in the mid-2000s, garnering known singles like “Starting Line,” “We Are,” and “Who You Are.” After the band disintegrated into the solo project of musician/producer/songwrtier Jeff Schneeweis, the fragments formed one of the most under the radar, yet widely distributed indie rock groups of the past few years. Surrogate became hailed among Tooth and Nail diehards for their blend of shoegaze and indie pop sensibility. Now, in their third full length release, Surrogate is independent for the Post-Herioc era. What an era it should be.
Emphasis is on the “should” in that last paragraph because the notoriety for this album hasn’t happened yet. Post-Herioc evokes a melancholy, haunting theme that stretches the length of the record. Yet, this isn’t to say there are no light-hearted moments. After the slow, bittersweet start to the album that is the title track and “Blank Page” the band snaps out of its funk during “Battleground, Washington” – an obvious homage to the region many Tooth and Nail alumni are quite familiar with. “Belongings” keeps the tempo up but the mood in check, evoking a vibe neither cheerful nor sad. The band toys with some throwback synth-y new wave goodness in “Sleep Alone” and we get echoes of Death Cab for Cutie, specifically their track “Your Heart Is An Empty Room” in the beautiful album closer “Accolades.” “Crimes” cranks up the happiness once again with generous doses of rhodes. I get a bit of a Decemberists vibe in this track. Colin Meloy could sing this song just as well.
The fact that you’re reading a review on this site should make it self-evident to you that sometimes the best gems in music fly way below the radar. While I don’t love every track on Post-Heroic, I find myself questioning why I waited so long to give a full album from these guys a chance. Post-Herioc is an ideal record to carry you through those rainy Spring days, although the mood conveyed is versatile enough for any time of year.