The Funk: Mates of State

Posted by Dan May 16th, 2008 at 12:16pm In The Funk

Mates of State have been around forever (well, probably 2001 or so), but they’re still doing their two-person show.

They’re a husband and wife duo who play keys and drums and sing their little hearts out. In recent years, they’ve begun adding wee babes to their brood, all the while trying as hard as they can to eschew the label of “cute.” Sometimes, though, the shoe just fits.

I’m really digging their new album, Re-Arrange Us. I was a huge fan of their first three records and on their previous one, Bring It Back, I kind of thought they stumbled a bit. The songs were too long and there wasn’t a whole lot of joy in the record — one of the qualities that drew me to them. The new album contains that old fashioned exuberance with a more developed, less gimmicky sound.

The new single, “Get Better,” isn’t necessarily joyous, but it definitely has a sweet, swelling quality that is very nice.

Here’s a Hulu clip of the song where they’re dressed up like animals.