We've been completely loving The Morning Benders upcoming Big Echo, their debut on Rough Trade. We spoke recently with singer and songwriter Chris Chu about putting together the record, and "Excuses," the opening track, is a great introduction and thesis. We also posted their live version of this track, buffeted by a large crew of friends. The album version is surprisingly similarly massive when it needs to be, but humble in its quieter moments of humming and la la da da da da da das. But that tenderness is never without layers. They can get quiet, but never dull. It's like eating at a good restaurant—you know the steaks and fish are going to be sizzling, but you may just order a salad and then you're gonna hope they know how to properly dress it. What's the point of big gestures if you don't know subtlety.
Download: The Morning Benders, "Big Echo" (email registration required)