These United States: What Lasts

I first encountered These United States when they opened for Thao and Mirah and was immediately drawn to their contagious energy and sometimes-quiet, sometimes-grand sound despite not knowing a single one of their songs. I made a mental note then and there to give them a proper listen because I was sure I’d love them. To my great luck, only a month later they’ve come out with a new album and just as I expected, it’s wonderful. A brilliant mix of melancholy and vibrancy, What Lasts is a complex record about loss and survival.

What Lasts was largely provoked by songwriter Jesse Elliott’s near-drowning last year, and the record certainly reflects the intensity of such an experience. It deals not only with Elliott’s own brush with mortality, but also the loss of loved ones and general disillusionment. The result should be a pack of depressing, mellow tunes, but These United States manages to throw in an air of optimism and perseverance, producing a marriage of tenacious melodies and cautious lyrics that work in perfect harmony.

The opening track deals directly with Elliott’s experience, describing the thoughts and emotions of someone struggling to survive. Elliott’s rough, scratchy voice adds a layer of quiet desperation to the already heartbreaking intimate lyrics, while the band’s varied musical influences clearly shine through in a mix of Americana, blues and rock. Elliott warns in the beginning of the song that this story is “nothing yet metaphoric, symbolic or cluttered, just my life on their one hand, my death on their other,” but the song slowly morphs into an allegory of struggling to overcome any and all of life’s obstacles as he sings, “I sunk and I swam and I laughed and I swam / I still swim.”

“One You Believe” was an immediate favorite track. With a knee-bouncing rhythm and accompanying marching vocals, it encourages living life freely without concern to practicality. “You put the nails in your coffin when they penned all the laws, fine then, put the coffin on the ship you set fire to,” he advises.

The rest of the album exhibits These United States’ propensity for mixing genres and Elliott’s addictive voice. It slowly winds down, with the last couple of songs before the closing track being extremely mellow and smooth. The title track, “What Lasts” is a study of nostalgia, loss, and moving on that matches its slow drum beat and barely-there twangs. But rather than leave the record on such a bittersweet note, “Water & Wheat” finishes with one last thrilling, uplifting rock number that leaves you invigorated for the future.

What Lasts is an honest evaluation of life, accepting the defeats and anticipating the triumphs. With a solid line-up of songs both mellow and energetic, it’s certainly well worth a listen. It has definitely reserved a spot on my fall playlist.

What Lasts comes out today, July 20th, on United Interests.