2000 Original With Custom Insert. Vinyl Appears Glossy, Unplayed. “Bursting With Euphoric Energy, My Solo Project Is A Tremendous Debut Full-Length From San Francisco's Mates Of State. With Organ, Drums, And Belted-Out Boy-Girl Harmonies, The Mates Of State Crank Out A Giant, Joyous Pop Sound That Needs No Overdubbing Or Ornamentation To Convey Its Exuberance. The Keys-Fronted Lineup Begs Comparison To Bands Like Ben Folds Five And Quasi, But The Mates Of State Have Built A Freshness All Their Own, Rejuvenating Indie Pop With Unbelievable Vigor. Vocalist/Organist Kori Gardner Has A Honey-Sweet Voice That Shifts Easily From Languorous To Explosive Within Single Songs, Deftly Intertwining With Drummer/Vocalist Jason Hammel's Punctuated Yell-Singing. The Band's Bouncy Live Sound Excels On Songs "La'hov" And "Everyone Needs An Editor," While Songs Like "Nice Things That Look Good" And "Ride Again" Prove A Solid Ability To Slow Down And Noodle. The Momentum Of My Solo Project Is Further Sustained By The Varied Tempos And Rhythms -- Just A Little Loose Around The Edges -- That Build From One To The Next In A Way That Rigid Rock Beats So Often Miss. The Simple, Repetitive Lyrics Take On A Poetic, Jazzy Quality, As One Singer Maintains The Chorus Line While The Other Solos With Words -- Reminiscent Of Fellow West Coast Indie Rock Duo The Halo Benders. With This All-Round Impressive Debut Of Passionate, Accessible Pop/Rock, The Mates Of State Breath Fresh Excitement Into The Indie Scene In A Big Way.” – Michelle Cross, AMG