Social Studies was always a subject that excited and intrigued me, learning about the decades that help build the one I was currently sitting in. It felt like a grandly evocative experience for the soul while also being something rather humbling with its scope and endless lessons on life. And while it was all so factual, set it stone and undeniable, it was rather inspiring, as well, for how it lent itself to illustrating the human potential for amazing, unexpected things. It was real while providing space for the imagination to run wild.
In some ways, you could say similar sentiments sprout up when you listen to Social Studies, the San Francisco indie rock quintet. Somewhere between Beach House, Celebration, and some late '60s/early '70s rock band I can't quite put my finger on, Social Studies stands like a well-studied group that provides equal doses of smart arrangements and passionate hooks, splitting the difference between classic rock and modern music. They're one of the few bands that manages to have a timeless element to their sound without sounding gimmicky or overly devoted to rehashing the past. I must confess, though, that it's the guitar work of Tom Smith on the record that really does it for me. Ben McClintock joined this year as second guitarist, which means the history of Social Studies is bound to get even more interesting.
"Terracur" and "Away for the Weekend" are from Social Studies' recently released record, Developer, out on Antenna Farm Records. Grab it here.
Social Studies
Official Site
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