Tennis - "Petition"

One of the great strengths of Denver band Tennis is the group's consistency. Every song on Cape Dory and new LP Young & Old are executed with equal amounts professionalism, guitar fuzz, and sweet husky vocal melodies courtesy of Felicity-haired bandleader Alaina Moore. Tennis absolutely excels in its brand of re-imagined 50s and 60s pop: it's clever, catchy, and fun as hell. However, the band never really strays from that formula. Within Tennis's consistency also lies their greatest weakness: all of their songs sound incredibly similar, almost like variations on the same theme. And that's precisely why I can't stop listening to Young & Old's "Petition"—though the instrumentation is largely in the same vein, the song feels like a fresh turn. Moore's vocal chops are easily Tennis's greatest asset, and on "Petition" you can really hear her push herself and let loose. There's a bit of a 90s R&B vibe to the song's chorus, and instead of fitting into the band's usual cute indie aesthetic, Moore comes off as a seriously tough and commanding cat. There's a deeper more soulful resonance and rasp to her voice on and that lends the song an intoxicating sense of release: instead of sounding hip or cool, Tennis sounds downright emotional and mixed up. Personally, raw and mixed up wins out over straight-laced cool every time.

Tennis - "Petition" (from Young & Old)

January's Must-Have HiFi Tracks For Your Mind, Body & Soul

Starfucker - "Bury Us Alive" (from Reptilians)
Foster The People - "Helena Beat" (from Pumped Up Kicks)
Craft Spells - "After The Moment" (from Captured Tracks)
Tennis - "Seafarer" (from Cape Dory)
Kurt Vile - "Jesus Fever" (from Smoke Ring For My Halo)
Telekinesis - "Car Crash" (from 12 Desperate Straight Lines)
La Sera - "Devils Hearts Grow Gold"(from La Sera)

(photo via)

Tennis - "Marathon"

Tennis is husband and wife duo Patrick Riley and Alaina Moore. According to Underwater Peoples, the idea for the project was born a few years ago when Alaina made fun of Patrick for playing tennis in college. A year later the couple had left Denver to spend eight months sailing and exploring the North Atlantic coast. Out at sea, they began to document their adventures by writing music together.

Tennis - "Marathon"