Chores - The Subtle Politics of the Public Hammock (Field Hymns) You have to wonder what they’re putting in the water in Portland, Oregon. Fresh on the heels of last years local breakthrough act, Blitzen Trapper (whose song Furr was listed 4th best of the year by Rolling Stone magazine) come Chores. Unlike the REM driven Americana of their contemporaries, Chores instead focus on a more 90s alt. rock approach like a Los Campesinos influenced by Built To Spill or Pavement. The duel male / female vocals of Jada Pierce and Lou Thomas, over the fragmented guitar riffs, add to this effect. It’s almost a shame that for the most part the vocals are shouted as Jada demonstrates a great voice on ‘Make The World Go Away’, but this simply would not be as good an album if they weren’t. The real standout is ‘New New Deal’ which begins in a Springsteen(esque) lyrical refrain, ends in a haze of brass instruments, and becomes a moment of pure genius. Even at their most depressing on ‘Noinsuranceland’, Chores still manage to sound upbeat suggesting a band taking complete enjoyment in what they are doing. On top of that they have created an album, though without quite breaking the mould, still manages to be different, and they’ve also accomplished that almost impossible task of making intelligent music that never verges on the pretentious. www.choresmusic.com Michael B. Next