Forget New York. Minneapolis is now the place to turn for the best new indie rock out there. Why? The answer is simple: The Owls’ EP Our Hopes and Dreams. The band, which consists of husband and wife Brian Tighe (the Hang Ups) and Allison LaBonne (Legendary Jim Ruiz), Steve Ittner (formerly of the Hang Ups, who has been replaced by John Jerry) and Maria May, is a mish-mash of twin cities indie pop mainstays. Tighe comments on the forming of the band, “It started out as a recording project, basically me adding parts to Allison’s songs. Maria, who sang on a lot of Hang Ups recordings, sang on a couple of these songs, and came up and performed with us at our first show. Soon after we asked Stephen, the original Hang Ups drummer to join and then we were all contributing songs. Eventually Stephen decided to leave and focus on his visual art and we recruited John Jerry as our drummer, who we

had met from playing with The Ashtray Hearts. His style was understated and elegant, so we were very happy.”

The four band members switch instruments, vocals, and songwriting duties throughout, and yet Our Hopes and Dreams still manages to be a cohesive and impressive debut. The album is a simple, lush, lullaby of a record, and recalls The Beatles and The Velvet Underground while still sounding fresh. Each band member has their own distinctive vocal style, with LaBonne sounding like a distilled non-German Nico, and Tighe like Paul McCartney. As the band demonstrated Saturday during their show at the Triple Rock, to see them live is even better than to listen to the album.

What stands out initially about these eight songs is that they are timeless. Our Hopes and Dreams could have been recorded anytime from the 1960s onward, and The Owls’ indifference to trends is important to their sound. The very first song on the record, Maria May’s “Air,” is the track that will immediately stand out to anyone who listens to the album even once. It is melancholy to say the least, but the warmth of the melody is what draws the listener in. “There is only air where I used to care,” May sings in her soft voice. If American radio played indie rock, this song would be topping the charts.

“Air” is followed by LaBonne’s “Do Ya,” a bittersweet song that would be twee if it weren’t for LaBonne’s smoky voice and the excellent bridge. Tighe’s song “Forever Changing” is by far the most Beatles-esque song on the record, with its “Strawberry Fields” instrumentation and his McCartney lilt. (Tighe does list McCartney, Lennon, and Ray Davies among his influences, and comparisons to each can be made). But this is far from a bad thing. Though both Owls women are interesting singers in their own right, it is Tighe’s sweet tenor that has the lasting impact. Live, he is spectacular, bringing warmth to every note. On “Forever Changing,” one gets the feeling he is holding back, but the song still resonates brightly as one of the best on the abum. Other tracks, May’s sweeping, sad “Luck” and “From Far Away,” and LaBonne’s “Baby Boy,” keep the tone of the record consistent while adding their own twists. LaBonne’s “Drop Me a Line,” like most Owls’ songs, features impressive harmonies and overlaps from the different vocalists.

Steve Ittner, who is no longer with the band, wrote the final song on the record, “Even Now.” This is also a Beatles-influenced track with a great pop melody that closes the album perfectly. Though Ittner’s voice works well with the song, I can’t help but wish it was Tighe, who handles these sorts of vocals as well as McCartney ever did. Our Hopes and Dreams is the kind of album that you remember after one listen; it is instantly charismatic and instantly hummable. There is something about the chord progressions and the Owls’ voices that is familiar but also fresh. Minneapolis should be proud to offer these talented new indie rockers to the rest of the country; they will be heard and remembered.

The Owls will play with Ocean Blue September 23rd at the Fine Line Music CafÈ in Minneapolis. The show is $12 and 21+. Doors open at 9:00pm.

The Owls are also nominated for the following Minnesota Music awards: Best song (“Air”), Songwriter of the Year (Brian Tighe), Best Female Vocalist (Allison LaBonne), Best Band, and Best Pop Band of the Year 2004.