There is a moment in Real Estate's live performance (streaming for free on NPR) of their new album, Atlas, where some dude yells out, "You guys are awesome!" This wouldn't mean much to your typical indie rock band. Many a musician would ignore the outburst, trying to maintain a certain image. But just like the man who shouted, Real Estate are just a bunch of regular dudes too. They have no image! They don't even do the bare minimum and agree on a unified style of suburban-casual clothing to wear! "Let the camera show that that guy just said we were awesome!" says Alex Bleeker, the group's bassist, who seems quite pleased with himself. Hailing from suburban New Jersey, Real Estate feels like one of the only great acts left that isn't trying to make a statement, that doesn't have that larger than life magnetism that draws you to watch regardless of whether you like the music or not. There is no secret allure here, and if their set is shitty, there's really no reason to stick around. Nothing urgent is forcing you to listen to Real Estate. You can bail at anytime. They aren't going to launch into political protest or throw bags of cocaine into the audience once you walk away. Therefore, they should be proud (and relieved) knowing that they have managed to cook up yet another batch of marvelous songs. How can you leave when the guitar sounds as sweet as it does on "April's Song"? Real Estate is what the best high school band from your graduating class would have sounded like if they didn't do so many drugs and actually practiced every day. It's like they corralled all of your musically inclined friends' best songs and perfected them in a studio with the proper professional gear and an outstanding ear for detail.
In comparison to their past two albums, any dedicated Real Estate fan will notice a few significant changes in the tone of the songwriting. The group is not as caught up in the nostalgia of beach blankets and bonfires anymore. The lyrical content is a little more mature this time around, as songs like "Had To Hear" and "Crime" are more direct and to the point than anything they have ever written. While there is some great discussion to be had once you put this band under the analytical microscope, the most exciting prospect of a new Real Estate album is that you can add ten more songs to your summer playlist immediately after purchase. If Atlas makes you think a little while you relax, all the better, but more importantly, these ordinary guys have once again won the distinct honor of soundtracking your summer. Good for them. Better for you.
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