Another day, another list, and before you know it, it’s already February. The obligatory chocolate giving holiday is just a couple of days away and everyone is seeing hearts. For our Friday’s list, what better way to welcome Valentine’s than to showcase some songs by people who’ve taken the term ‘let’s make beautiful music together’ – literally and figuratively. Here now, is my list of songs from indie music duos who share a partnership that’s more than musical –
1. Viva Voce – Mixtape=Love
Mixtapes have always been the best alternative to writing your own love letter – you get to tell the object of your affection how you feel, minus the embarassment of them knowing that you can only rhyme ‘my lovely dear’ with ‘lager and beer’. Portland based Viva Voce (husband and wife team Kevin and Anita Robinson) sure seem to know that mixtapes unequivocally equals love, with this little track that just screams to be included in any love themed mixtape .
2. The Weepies – World Spins Madly On
As a duo, there’s nothing weepy about The Weepies. Deb Talan and Steve Tannen are a match made in music heaven. Both started their own careers separately, and eventually became drawn to each other because of their same love for music – that or maybe the mutual acknowledgement that they found each other hot. They do create the most heartfelt songs which might make you shed a tear or two.
3. Mates of State – My Only Offer
Mates of State‘s Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel are one of the most famous married duos in the indie music scene. With over 13 years of music behind them and 9 years of marriage, their songs often mirror the ups and downs of being in a long term relationship with someone. My Only Offer is one such song, whose lyrics speak of the lifelessness of old couplehood – a most likely candidate for those swinger parties.
4. The Submarines – Submarine Symphonika
If you think this song sounds familiar, it’s because it’s been used by Apple in one of their iPhone commercials (yes, another indie band off to mainstream success courtesy of Steve Jobs). In Submarine Symphonika, John Dragonetti and Blake Hazard (aka The Submarines) are all warm and fuzzy, and want to share the love by giving us hope that love will find you even when you’ve given up.
5. Dean & Britta – Friday, I’m In Love
Dean & Britta are Dean Wareham and Britta Philipps, both former members of the dream pop band Luna. After the band’s break-up, they worked on film scores (The Squid and the Whale
artwork: a Threadless tee design by Loy Valera
