Flock of Dimes

Add Date: September 13 

Artist: Flock of Dimes 

Album: If You See Me, Say Yes 

Label: Partisan 

Genre: Alt-pop, electropop

Comments: Flock of Dimes has long seemed like the side project of side projects. Baltimore native Jenn Wasner first started making music under this moniker a few years back, releasing several singles and occasionally performing live. However, Wye Oak was still in full gear; when she took a break from that band, it was to record a pop album with Jon Ehrens as Dungeonesse. Yet at some point, Wasner decided to pour some additional energy into Flock of Dimes, and the result is the splendid full-length If You See Me, Say Yes.

While known more for folk-inflected alt-rock, Wye Oak has dabbled in atmospheric pop -- especially on 2014 LP Shriek and this summer's reverse follow-up, Tween. But Flock of Dimes goes full throttle in this direction, emerging with a record that sounds like a cross between a pair of her new Partisan Records labelmates: there are elements of the avant-synthpop of her buddies in Sylvan Esso (like Wasner, another act currently based in Durham, N.C.), as well as the Fleetwood Mac-channeling retro pop of the Portland duo Pure Bathing Culture. While it may seem disingenuous to label If You See Me, Say Yes as a debut -- after all, it's been a long time coming -- the record's "excellent, electro-acoustic sound" (Brooklyn Vegan) is certainly worth your time. 

Recommended Tracks: 5, 4, 9, 2, 3

DNP: none