Today I received a copy of the San Francisco/Oakland-based The Mantles’ latest album Long Enough To Leave. I’m giving it two thumbs up. Why? Because it deserves it. I’ve been listening to it’s sparkling low-key 10-track, but brilliantly rendered LP. Song after song possesses a Beach Boy soft à la folkish rock quiality; both modernistic and contemporary. My favorites are powder soft Raspberry Thighs and the feisty Brown Balloon (the later track has a kinda sorta Black Francis/The Pixies vibe). Lead vocalist Michael Olivares delivers each song in his plaintive lovelorn voice, which makes each and every word sound authentically woeful, yet oddly hopeful too
The album Long Enough To Leave drop June 18th via Slumberland Records. If you’ve missed it check the band’s excellent 2009 self-titled debut album (on Siltbreeze) and follow-up EP on Mexican Summer. Peace.
TOUR DATES:
06/14 San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop @
06/22 Oakland, CA – White Horse Bar ~
07/05 Washington, DC – Black Whiskey*
07/06 Baltimore, MD – Club K*
07/07 Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Neck Tie*
07/08 Harrisburg, PA – MakeSpace*
07/09 Brooklyn, NY – Shea Stadium*
07/10 New Haven, CT – BAR*
07/11 Cambridge, MA – Lilypad*
07/12 New Bedford, MA – No Problemo Taqueria*
07/13 New York, NY – Cake Shop #*
* = w/ Juan Wauters of The Beets
@ = w/ The Bats, Legs
~ = w/ Kelley Stoltz
# = w/ Piano Movers and Pale Lights