By Joshua Mellin | February 21st, 2012
This might sound like an obvious statement, but Tennis’ newest Patrick Carney-produced album Young & Old is damn good.
The husband and wife duo’s back story is well documented. Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore met at the University of Colorado-Denver in a philosophy class, marrying soon after and setting sail on a months long expedition along the Eastern Atlantic Seaboard. It’s a great foder for their first album, 2011′s Cape Dory, but could have led to a stifled sophomore effort.
That’s what makes the depth of Young & Old all the more impressive. Alaina Moore’s delicate voice exudes with confidence and strength alongside Patrick Riley’s fuzzy guitar. While Carney’s productions sets Tennis, along with drummer James Barone, off kilter just enough to keep them fresh.
From Cape Dory‘s opening plea “Take Me Somewhere” Young & Old answers with Moore aching “Everywhere I go/it all feels the same.”
“Origins” is just one of those great songs, catchy and coy, as is the sassy “Petition.” The influence of Danger Mouse, Brian Burton, on Patrick Carney’s production style is evident on a track ilke “Robin” whose synth, tambourine, surf grooves make it sound like a lost Gnarls Barkley take.
Upbeat, and accessible, Young & Old is most of all sincere, and one of the first great albums of 2012.