Fallen for Hermit Thrushes.  Inventive, melodic, complex.  Avant-pop in the truest sense. Not many bands live up to that moniker. A rarified bunch, numbering the likes of early Mommyheads (Acorn, Coming Into Beauty, Flying Suit), Orchestraville (everything they made – they even pledge allegiance the genre on their website), Thinking Fellers Union 282 (not everything but definitely Strangers From The Universe), a smattering of others. 

Avant-pop isn’t exactly math rock.  Though they share affinity for dropped beats, tacked-on beats, odd time signatures, syncopation, sharps, flats, chromatic runs and complexity.  Avant-pop has vocals; math rock usually doesn’t.  

Hermit Thrushes embody avant-pop.  Check out the four songs below, which come from a smattering of different records (Mystery Ocean, Wooded Blankets, Slight Fountain, Benaki).

All of these bear repeat listening; they hold up.  They deserve more attention, more accolades.  They’re the real deal.

They are on tour right now and play Seattle next Sunday night at 2020 Cycles with Lake and Lazer Zeppelin.