It’s refreshing to hear a band dedicated an album about a certain area and not actually be from that area. So instead of getting songs about how rainy and depressing Portland, Oregon is from The Dimes, we get something soft and lush about Boston, Massachusetts.

Their one sheet describes them as being close to the sound to Death Cab for Cutie and says the band’s influences range from The Beatles to The Decemberists. If you like any of those bands mentioned, it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll dig this band.

And though I like those bands too, there’s something else that draws me toward The Dimes. I can’t tell you what it is exactly except that i’m writing this late on Sunday night after watching Breaking Bad because they made me sit up in bed.

The New England EP has four songs, one of which is the John Lennon cover “Watching the Wheels.”

As mentioned before, they have a familiar sound, which is apparent on “The Ballad of Winslow Homer” and could have been a B-side to a Wes Anderson film (it would have been played in full during the movie during the character’s “moment of clarity” scene).

The Dimes – The Ballad of Winslow Homer

Then there’s “Clara,” which sounds nothing like Ballad, and yet has the same kind of laid-back tone. Again, you feel like you’ve heard these guys before and though you can’t pinpoint where and how, it feels good, which makes you assume it was a good memory.

This is your rainy day music, the EP you have on that you will listen to in full over and over again, either because it’s calming or because you’re in your own personal Wes Anderson film and you’re just waiting for your moment to arrive. And when it does, at least you’ll have the right song lined up.

Though the concert tour appears to a bit light, these guys may be expanding their live shows soon.

May 29 2009 12:00P    Seattle University Seattle, Washington
Jun 5 2009 9:00P          Doug Fir Portland, Oregon
Jun 6 2009 8:00P          Crocodile Seattle, Washington