One of my favorite aspects of reviewing music is the opportunity to listen to music I’ve never heard. To have new albums and new bands recommended to me. To explore an opportunity I might have otherwise missed. I love when people recommend music to me.

One of the best parts about music is that it dates back to before almost all language. Something so ancient and still relevant is incredibly thrilling. Think about it, we’ve only just come into the “modern music” era within the last 100 years. Music is still so young and able to be molded. It speaks to each person on such a unique level.

With that being said, why is it when we get a new sound it has to be replicated a thousand times? Is there really such demand for 30 versions of Jack Johnson? How many other Travis-like bands will be propelled into stardom on a sound that’s been done? I’m looking at you Coldplay and Keane.

When The Babies flew across my desk I snatched it up with some serious excitement, threw on my headphones, took that, well, baby for a spin.

I must be listening to a new Sonic Youth album. I love Sonic Youth, how did I miss this?

Oh, maybe because this is the new Pixies album! Right?

No? They have no association with either band?

Interesting.

Now I’m about halfway through the album, I’ve come to terms with the very heavy influences of both bands I naively mistook them to be.

I am beginning to see a definitive style here. A very smooth rolling poetic adventure befitting the “indie” music promised to us listeners.

I want to, no, need to know who these people are. My trusty detective cap led me to learn the band is a side project of Cassie Ramone of the Vivian Girls and Kevin Morby of the Woods. Who? I have no idea.

Having listened to this rather entertaining embodiment of what may be the future of the underground indie scene, I’ve come out with a few thoughts I want to share.

1)      Perhaps making a stance against replicated sound is a bit premature. After all, if we didn’t have the pioneers, how would we be here?

2)      Let the evolution of music run its course. While we’re here, grab on to something you’ve never heard of, you may be surprised.

3)      The Babies – The Babies feeds my hunger for the sounds of Pixies, Sonic Youth, early Psychedelic-Pop (almost Syd Barrett), and She & Him-like vocals all rolled into one.

This is a sound I couldn’t see myself listening to often, yet I feel as though I’ve grown some by having a go at it. Much like a child refusing to try brussel sprouts, how do you know you don’t like them if you don’t try? In the end, I can say I’ve listened to The Babies if it comes up. Have you?