Philly-based indie pop outfit The Tisburys have slowly been evolving their sound record to record and have landed on a particularly inspired form of modern power pop with Still Life Revisited, their fourth effort. Musically, the songs are punctuated with horns, synth, and stellar harmonies throughout, while lyrically, the band manages to tackle some pretty lofty themes dealing with growing up, finding your own family, and looking back.
While 2022’s Exile On Main Street had a decidedly ‘90s college rock vibe, you can hear echoes of everyone from Squeeze and Teenage Fanclub to The Hold Steady weaved throughout the new record. Songs like “Forever,” with its impossibly addictive choruses, and the piano-heavy “Painted Eyes” (complete with a fantastic horn sound) find the band at their peak. “The Anniversaries” is also a remarkable song from start to finish with locked in harmonies and a triumphant singalong chorus. And while the band can clearly lay down some joyous singles, they also are willing to show a little darkness here and there, like on “Water In the Clouds,” a more ominous indie rock song that boasts some stellar guitar lines.
“Some of these songs are about turning 30, getting married, and growing up,” said frontman Tyler Asay in a recent interview. “The record is about aging and looking back at the first half of your life.” The album closes on “Here Comes the Lonesome Dove,” an urgent, upbeat song that blends their more power pop tendencies and strong harmonies with their slightly darker lyrical themes. It perfectly caps off the band’s strongest and most consistently great collection of songs yet. It’s also a record where every single instrument is holding its own on the songs. Musically and lyrically, the band is hitting its apex with Still Life Revisited.
Recorded at Mt. Slippery studio – owned by fellow Philly band Dr. Dog – this marks the group’s first record with SofaBurn and Double Helix Records, two labels that partnered for this release.
