Tennessee five-piece We Were the States’ sophomore release Rasa is an amalgamation of dreamy indie-pop and 60s, jam-oriented progressive rock; complete with sweat-soaked flannel shirts, mildly cerebral (read as pretentious) lyrics and manic vocals. There’s nothing overly original on Rasa, but it’s certainly listenable.
Consisting of guitarists Benjamin P. Moore and J Stoyanov, bassist Will Pettus, singer Justin Webb and drummer Tyler Coppage; We Were the States combines the cocky, sexual drive of Wolfmother with the sensitive, vulnerability of Kings of Leon, but with just enough electronic experimentation to set them apart from either act.
The interesting thing to note about Rasa is it feels like two separate albums. There are the highly volatile rock bits (“End of Us,” “(I’m Not My) 808,” “Don’t Ask Why”) and the atmospheric, ambient meanderings (“Paris Green,” ‘Queens,” “Under the Hand”) that don’t quite marry well. Like two unhappy partners is a ho-hum marriage, these two sonic sides of the We Were the States coin should be shelved in favor of one or the other as utilizing them both does the band a disservice.
Rasa’s highlights include the psychedelic, space-jam, “Daft Since ’77” and the synth driven “Paris Green.” For fans of The Black Keys, Colour Revolt, The Raconteurs or The Killers, Rasa will fit right into your iPod library.
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