Portland, Oregon‰۪s Eyelids existed long before the actual band came to be. Friends for over two decades, principal songwriters John Moen and Chris Slusarenko had long desired to get together to write songs, ‰ÛÏsweet melodies‰۝ paired with ‰ÛÏbummer vibes,‰۝ which would fuse Big Star‰۪s jangle to XTC‰۪s melodicism, connecting the dots between the dream pop sounds of the ‰۪80s Paisley Underground to the homespun post-punk of the legendary Flying Nun label. For years, Moen and Slusarenko played and wrote in the company of some of the most legendary songwriters of indie rock including Robert Pollard(Guided by Voices),Stephen Malkmus(Pavement / Jicks),Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) and Elliott Smith. In 2014 they decided that it was time to finally start writing and recording together, adding the talents of guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Drews (Sunset Valley, Damien Jurado). The end result was their thirteen-song debut album, 854, which gained positive notes from A/V Club, Brooklyn Vegan, BBC6 Radio and MOJO magazine. NPR called them ‰ÛÏPortland‰۪s best kept secret.‰۝ With Or, the band‰۪s second full-length LP, they‰۪ve created a more emotional record. Produced by Peter Buck of R.E.M. and mixed by Thom Monahan (Peter, Bjorn and John, Devandra Banhart, Fruit Bats), the album is liberally sprinkled with the hooks, melodies, and charming wordplay that make a certain kind of rock and roll fan fall madly in love. Joined by guests Jay Gonzales (Drive-By Truckers), Jonathan Segel (Camper Van Beethoven) and Buck himself, the record demonstrates what happens when a group of old friends get into a room and truly collaborate. This is the sound of a band realizing its potential, of old friends connecting creatively and sonically, creating exuberant, nuanced, pop music.åÊ
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