I was first drawn toward Oakland indie rockers The 1981 when I saw the hype building for last years Polaroids EP. I was hooked by the beautifully retro artwork before I’d even heard a note, and the fact they were part of the wonderful Dandy Boy Records sealed the deal.
Fast forward a year and the band are preparing to release their debut full length album Move On. Lead single Make It Right served as a fine introduction to their eighties influenced indie aesthetic with its anthemic power pop energy, and latest cut Notebox is their most immediate statement to date.
Continuing the albums wider narrative of a fictional couples relationship slowly crumbling, Notebox stomps out of the traps, with core duo Adam Widener and Bobby Martinez bolstered by Phil Lantz’s pounding drum track. Equal parts surging guitars and lilting melodies, this track will appeal to folk across the indie spectrum and is sure to help bring The 1981’s wonderful work further out into the light.
Each new tune I hear from this band raises my excitement for what’s to come next. This is music for the soul, rousing and soothing in equal measure. Move On is available now for pre-order, and is shaping up to be one of the albums of the year. Don’t sleep.
LISTEN/BUY/SHARE:
Move On available to pre-order here:
Polaroids EP available here:
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