Annuals, noun, currently has two dictionary entries: "short-lived plants" and "yearly publications." I propose a third: Five guys and a girl from North Carolina, also known as a band that just released their first LP, Be He Me, and is currently touring with another burgeoning indie-favorite, Tapes n' Tapes.
"We're actually in St. Augustine right now. We just ate a huge lunch and I'm just like lying in the back of the van."
So began my conversation with Annuals' bass player Mike Robinson and lead singer Adam Baker. We chatted about the new release, the history of the band and how the labels "bass player" and "lead singer" don't necessarily work for them. According to Robinson, "We all just play a lot of instruments. We're all musicians. I wouldn't call anyone a guitarist or a pianist because we're interested in all kinds of different things."
The band has been known to swap instruments both in the studio and on stage in order to produce and reproduce their unique sound.
"We also really want to create [in a live show] the exact same song as what's been recorded. We'll try really hard to get all our songs live to represent the record."
Be He Me reflects the band's musicianship and work ethic.
"We actually produced the whole album ourselves with a little bit of mixing assistance from Mickey Petralia out in L.A. He's the guy that did Midnite Vultures with Beck and [Electroshock Blues by Eels]." The LP is, in Robinson's words, "a direct descendant" of Midnite Vultures, so "we were totally stoked that he could work with us."
The layered sonic landscape Annuals create is reminiscent of Beck's aesthetic as well as Annuals' synthesis of diverse musical styles; their influences include Brian Wilson, Radiohead and Aphex Twin. Each of the six band members has a unique musical perspective: "The kind of bands that get brought to the table are all very different. We do all have pretty distinct tastes but at the same time we're all pretty accepting of different kinds of music and we all listen to everything. In pretty much every genre there's something we'll find and really love," Robinson said.
One Annuals song may combine pedal steel and banjo with electronic programming and effects, while another keeps it simple with piano and drums. But the album is cohesive, held together by vibrant instrumentals and the equally emotive lyrics of 20-year-old Baker.
When I asked Baker if he could tell me what the song "Complete or Completing" was about, he hesitated: "Yeah sure, um, it's hard to explain. I guess it's just about ... Aw man, I can't even say it [laughs]. It's just too embarrassing."
Adam prefers that listeners "take their gut instincts when they listen to any of our music," because his songs are written "mostly about having a feeling and trying to explain it to myself."
So although most of the lyrics could be viewed as narratives, they evoke powerful feelings and imagery -- not necessarily messages or ideas. Though, says Baker, "The song called 'Father' is about my dad who recently passed away. But that one is kind of a no-brainer."
Throughout the album, there are moments of poignancy, dissonance and straight-up, accessible indie rock.
As for where the name Annuals came from: "We just think it sounds nice. No universal truths behind the name though," Robinson said.
But that's OK. Annuals save the universal truth for their music. Or, if it's not universal truth, at least a universal vitality that grows with each listen.
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