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Music: Rock/Pop
Mates of State

When

Thursday May 22 (9pm)

Where
Slim's (333 11th St, 415.255.0333)
Price
$19 / $17 advance
Details
http://www.slims-sf.com/slims-bin/showcal?date=2008-05
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Once an ethos, then a (vaguely defined) genre, now a commercial force, "indie rock" has become infinitely fragmented and grossly commodified over the last decade. There's no shame in longing for the days when a band like Mates of State could win over the cognoscenti. The onetime San Francisco duo's new album, Re-arrange Us, dresses their pop quirks in vast orchestrations and some seriously anthemic choruses. Always most entrancing for the chemistry of husband-and-wife Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, Mates of State are a comforting reminder of what was so lovable in "independence" — never mind their AT&T ad appearance.

Nicholas Nauman