Tom Lynch

The best quality of local band Track a Tiger is its ability to conjure thoughts of Low, Yo La Tengo and Iron & Wine and then so convincingly, so smoothly, make the sound its own. On "We Moved Like Ghosts," the band’s newest on Deep Elm Records, the first song is a brooding, Low-like warning called "Saint About to Fall," and it’s immediately followed by a more upbeat, indie-rock gem called "Don’t Make a Weapon"—the boy-girl harmonies on both are crushing. "Light" follows, an atmospheric beauty, and then the more traditional, but just as pleasing, pop song "All These Accidents," and afterwards it’s unbelievable that you’re only four songs in.

"You know what, when it started out, I only had five songs," says singer and guitarist Jim Vallet about the album. "I didn’t have it written. It was being written up until—I set a deadline to mix it in January, I was like, ‘I have to have an ending point, or I’ll go on forever.’ It was pieced together so haphazardly, I didn’t know I had a record." Vallet wrote, quite literally, right up until his deadline. "Literally the day before, I woke up in the morning, got some coffee, and wrote a song ["I Speak to You with a Single Heart," a quick, quiet interlude between energized tracks that strangely stands out]. I needed one more song—my goal was to have ten songs. It turned out to be one of my favorites—I don’t think it was overworked too much. I like that it’s kind of raw."

Perhaps that’s the best approach for the band—to avoid over-thinking music that works so well with limited accessories, don’t have an epic game plan. Vallet, who also teaches at Roosevelt High School, says the band focuses on the louder songs when playing live. "We definitely stick to the uptempo stuff live…the kind of moody stuff, it’s fine on a record, but I don’t know if that translates live. When I see bands too downtempo, it’s hard to pull off live."

Track a Tiger plays June 14 at Double Door, 1572 North Milwaukee, (773)489-3160, at 9pm. $7.

(2007-06-12)

Also by Tom Lynch

Soundcheck
There’ve been multiple chapters in Mary Timony’s music career—it started in Washington D.C. with the somewhat groundbreaking Autoclave and eventually she moved on to spearhead her most well-known group, Helium, where her fusion of spaced-out drone abuse matched successfully with her pop sensibility and her low, low voice
(2007-06-05)

Songcraft
Every once in a great while you’ll hear a new band that, in some way or another, reaffirms your love of music, your adoration for history and your admiration for artists who find splendor in the simplest of notes, phrases or progressions. Brighton, MA does just that
(2007-06-05)

Tip of the Week
The fifth annual Chicago Rocks Hip-Hop Showcase—two days of the city’s top hip-hop artists on two different stages—hits this weekend, and the lineup looks to be one of the best the event’s had in a while
(2007-06-05)

Soundcheck
A few years ago, Chicago’s The Race had a pair of sharply cut, impressive records, called "The Perfect Gift" and "If You Can." It seemed like the band was set to break out at any moment as they were touring successfully and receiving a positive critical response. Then problems arose
(2007-05-29)

Long Time Gone
(2007-05-29)

Tip of the Week
(2007-05-29)

Three Records
(2007-05-27)

Tip of the Week
(2007-05-22)

The Great Whale
(2007-05-18)

Modest Mouse
(2007-05-15)

Tip of the Week
(2007-05-15)

Tip of the Week
(2007-05-15)

about Newcitychicago | about Newcity magazine | advertising | privacy policy | FAQ | employment