AltarTV

It’s never easy starting over. Particularly when starting over involves leaving your old band, and even more particularly when those bands are as beloved and adored as Copeland or Lydia. That’s the challenge faced by States, the collective of said former members embarking in a ballsy new direction. The instrumental prowess of Copeland’s Bryan and Stephen Laurenson, Mindy White’s larger-than-life vocal dynamism; that’s all still present as ever in States, but they’ve driven it to a bold, new place.

If any one thing defines the difference between States and their former groups, it’s the newfound appetite for big sounds, big hooks and big ideas. Gone is the hazy indie dissonance that populates the records of so many of their peers; States is concise and cinematic, ambitious in an Arcade Fire/ Muse sort of way. And like the latter, their songs are highlighted by one hell of a vocalist in Mindy White. She’s the show stealer, hands down, boasting a range of registers and emotions she breathes out with an uncommon ease. A rare talent, for sure.

States’ songs are unapologetically catchy in contrast with their former projects, which may not appeal to old fans. But with a hybrid like States, it’s cool to see familiar faces trying something new and diving into it headfirst. They’re not treading the same old ideas under a new name. It’s a new band with a new sound. With musicians as talented as the five in States, there’s not a whole lot that can go wrong.

‘Room To Run’ is out now on States and Eggs.

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