Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
Underlined Passages’ core duo of Michael Nestor and Frank Corl (ex. Seldon Plan) are continuing a journey. They repre- sent a facet of Baltimore music that has had long, deep roots in the city’s rock scene: good, brainy indie rock (e.g., the Oranges Band) that never quite blew up like the electric neon or far avant garde of other city artists. Lead singer Nestor’s Plan proceeded to evolve in this relatively overlooked corner of Baltimore’s indie scene, maturing and fine-tuning their craft through 2011 (around when Corl joined on drums). Some- where along the way, instead of continuing in the straight indie rock tradition (a la Sunday’s Best/Nada Surf ), they drifted towards a more pop-infused sound.
Now, akin to relaxed and confident later era Ted Leo or newer Copeland, Underlined Passages find that Nestor and Corl have staked their claim squarely in indie pop territory and they couldn’t be happier. Big, cohesive melody and harmony take center stage here: soulful, borderline-wistful vocals; catchy and twangy guitars; tight drums that forgo any flash or excess; deliberate bass with forward momentum.
Technically, their songs can seem deceptively sparse and simple. But that’s a bit of the point: Underlined Passages aren’t splashy, highlighter fare of the neon tights set. That was never their core sound, earlier or later in their artistic journey together. These are songs like opening a window, with a sensation not unlike taking in a long, deep lungful of fresh air. The chords wash over you and you’re swimming in their warmth. These are purposeful, tight arrangements. Though you may note a bit of world-weariness and distant nostalgia in Nestor’s vocals, you still feel that everything is right in its place. These are songs that swell and swirl in your head and heart, filling you with the same comfort and content that the artists felt when writing them.
Underlined Passages are in a confident place, finally comfort- able in their skin in both music and life. And you feel it from the first chord to the last fading note.
