The Elected was formed by Rilo Kiley co-singer/songwriter Blake Sennett. Mike Mogis (best known for his work with Saddle Creek bands Bright Eyes and The Faint) and Jimmy Tamborello (Postal Service and Dntel) recorded Me First on donated time in the late Elliott Smith's studio 'New Monkey'. The rest of the band is made up of Jason Boesel (also from Rilo Kiley), Daniel Brummel (Ozma) and Mike Bloom as well as a rather impressive list of other contributors.
With that said, this album sounds great. Sonically it's right on, even if you're not a fan of Sennett's sometime whiney (but not quite as whiney as Conor Oberst) vocals the overall warm and cozy feel of this album should draw you in. The comparisons to Bright Eyes are almost unavoidable with The Elected. Especially when contrasted with Bright Eyes songs such as "Bowl of Oranges", "Make War" and "Laura Laurent" (the more alt-country influenced tracks). Although Tamborello can't quite go wild with his electronic experimentation, his presence is noted and definitely brings an element of depth and fullness to Sennett's already well constructed country-rock pop songs.
Lyrically the album at times may come across as a bunch of diary entries, there is enough here for just about all of us to enjoy and maybe even relate to. Sennett does a good job at crafting songs in a storybook setting that leaves enough open for the listener to take something away from it. I can definitely see Me First fighting for a spot in my Top 10 this year.
3.5/4
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