It's hard to meet the lofty expectations created when successful musicians unite. But in Portland, Ore., one band is quietly bucking that trend.
Eyelids' members include current and former members of some of indie-rock's gentry class: The Decemberists, The Minus 5, Guided By Voices and more. In spite of the impressive resume, the group has largely flown under the radar of the national press. That isn't necessarily by design: Due to the many individual touring and recording commitments of its members, Eyelids' schedule is complicated. The band has been limited to playing a handful of shows in its hometown, and until recently its recorded catalog consisted entirely of two limited-run EPs. For the past year, Eyelids has been Portland's best kept secret.
That's likely to change with the release of 854, a tight 13-song psych-pop set whose centerpiece is the jangly rock track "Psych #1." The song's opening hook is a whirlwind of tangled acoustic and electric guitars that gets stuck in your head and continues to spin long after the tune is over. The nasally falsettos of lead singer John Moen and bandmate Chris Slusarenko float softly throughout the verses and fit seamlessly between fuzzed-out guitars that nod to early R.E.M. and L.A.'s Paisley Underground scene.
With "Pysch #1," Eyelids' members loudly exceed considerable expectations. Here's hoping that, time permitting, we'll hear more from them in 2015.
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