Finally, existentialism has come to folk music.
Ten Mile Tide focuses on life's chances and accepting responsibility in its latest independent release, Midnight Is Early.
Ten Mile Tide, a band started by twin brothers Justin and Jason Munning and their Stanford roommates, mixes a Counting Crows-style with early '70s folk to create a unique and refreshing album.
The music of Midnight Is Early focuses heavily on the sextet's three-fold vocals and violinist Steve Kessler. Mellow bass and guitars complete the band's folk-rock sound.
Cheerful, San Fran, flowers-in-your-hair lyrics blend smoothly with lyrics that have walked city streets and seen the people that slip through the cracks of the world.
The song "My Child" chides humanity for ignoring the people who have forgotten how to live and are merely trying to survive. But it doesn't excuse these people from responsibility, either. "Can't remember how living used to be/ when living was free of dirt, despair and need/ feels like his life's a book that's already been written/ published the day he decided on quittin'."
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The theme throughout the album focuses on living life no matter where it takes you. Songs like "Don't Follow" and "Scream Out at the Sky" tell listeners to stay away from the path everyone shoves at them, to accept responsibility for the way their lives turn out. "People told him to stay on track/ now he's not and he never wants to go back," sings Marc Mazzoni in "Scream Out at the Sky."
The song "Sodium Lights" stands out from the rest on this album. It chronicles three moments in different people's lives, circling around loneliness and regret. It speaks about moving past regret and learning from the paths that lead people astray.
The calm, sad melody combined with the beautiful lyrics really creates a poignant song. "The old man says to me, son, you're looking kind of desperately/ staring at your hands wishing they could be windows," opens the song with an earnest need that can speak to anyone who listens.
Despite the message, some of the tracks can get a tad monotonous in length and formulaic structure. In "Don't Follow," those words are repeated eight times at a slow rate during two of the refrains. The point could have just as easily been understood with only four.
Some songs follow a verse-chorus formula for the entire five minutes of the track. This gives the listener a wide window to daydream and a large opportunity to pay less attention to the song.
Fortunately, for those not wanting to sit through all the monotonous tracks, the band's songs are available for download on the Website, www.tenmiletide.com. Not only do they encourage file sharing, but programs like Kazaa and Cornerband.com built their original fan base and are responsible for the band's recent success. Ten Mile Tide recently appeared on CNN in an interview showing support for file-sharing networks.
Even better, this San Francisco-based band is bringing its show to Albuquerque for the Midnight Is Early tour. Where music downloading gave the group its initial success, high-energy live shows have given the band more recent acclaim.
Midnight Is Early is an album with definite quality and a solid message. "You're in your prime/ time is nothing/ spin the wheel and live your life."
Who: Ten Mile Tide
When: Wednesday, 9 p.m.
Where: Stella Blue 3001 Central Ave
How
much: $3
Tickets
& Info: 268-8667
