The Morning Benders - Big Echo Review

Big Echo

The Morning Benders

Release Date: 9th Mar, 2010
Label: Rough trade
Genre: Indie

Hailing from Berkeley California, this indie 4 piece have shared stage space over the years with the likes of Grizzly Bear, The Kooks, Death Cab For Cutie and MGMT.

Back in December 2008, iTunes deemed 'Talking Through Tin Cans' as the best indie/alternative album of the year, a proud achievement when you consider the volumes of artists that iTunes process on a daily basis.

'Big Echo' is the bands 2nd official album release (they did release a freebie LP back in early 2008) and from the sounds of it, I can see great things for them in 2010.



The new album is a polished affair, full of light hearted, floaty indie pop tracks that will have you coming back for more. Standout tracks for me include 'Excuses' which sounds heavily influenced by the early Beatles material, the electronica delight 'All Day Day Light' (complete with 80's drum machine sample) and the beautiful keyboard led 'Mason Jar'.

From the initial listen, I would say that The Morning Benders are a cross between Arctic Monkeys, Cast and The Beatles…..not a bad bunch of artists to be compared to.



Touring across the USA and Canada throughout April and appearing at a handful of Stateside festivals later in July, I can't see them gracing any UK stages this year….more information as it arrives.

Reviewed by Steve Muscutt

About The Artist

The Morning Benders

On March 25, 2012, The Morning Benders changed their name to POP ETC. The Morning Benders is a band from Berkeley, California, formed in 2005, consisting of Julian Harmon, Tim Or, Jonathan Chu, and Christopher Chu. In 2008, they released their debut album Talking Through Tin Cans on +1 Records. The band has toured in support of Broken Bells (Spring/Summer 2010), Grizzly Bear (Fall 2009), The Kooks and Death Cab for Cutie (Summer 2008), Ra Ra Riot (Fall 2008), The Black Keys (Summer 2010), and has also played with Yo La Tengo, MGMT, Grand Archives, Yeasayer, Two Gallants, The Rosebuds, Au Revoir Simone, We Are Scientists, and White Rabbits. They also toured with The Submarines in 2009. Having shared the stage with other bands such as Beach House, MGMT, Ra Ra Riot, Grizzly Bear and Girls, these boys are seasoned vets. Don’t let their age deceive you. In December 2008, iTunes deemed Talking Through Tin Cans the best indie/alternative album of 2008. The Morning Benders recorded their 2010 album Big Echo in San Francisco and mixed it in Brookyln. Chris Chu and Chris Taylor (Grizzly Bear) produced it in eleven days. On the twelfth day they rejoiced. There are 10 tracks on Big Echo, which The Morning Benders think is an ideal length for an album. In March of 2012 the band announced that they would be changing their name to POP ETC.

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16 Comments

  1. bullandgate 29 Aug 2011

    muy bueno de principio a fin!

  2. Lasa4 04 Apr 2011

    Magistral band, disc, live... Magistral chu!!!

  3. rylimusic 06 Jan 2011

    Spectacular album. <3

  4. kbomb001 04 Sep 2010

    good background music

  5. SkyDaylight 26 Aug 2010

    lol i hate that every stole what i was gonna say. Best cd i've heard in years. They sold me on their next one

  6. ohmusica 25 Jul 2010

    fantastic !

  7. WannabeSue 18 Jul 2010

    This is such a good album!

  8. ChinO99 30 Jun 2010

    siempre con bien chingones cabrones !! I <3 fan fan fan =)

  9. POTDL 30 Jun 2010

    nice lp

  10. heathd521 04 May 2010

    album of the year so far.

  11. johnnyvolume 02 May 2010

    The Morning Benders played this almost in its entirety live and it was amazing

  12. LaikaFire 06 Apr 2010

    'Bic Echo' rated at 80% http://highrating.blogspot.com/2010/03/morning-benders-big-echo.html

  13. Microfoot 18 Mar 2010

    Damn. Not much else I can say about this piece of genius here.

  14. askush 15 Feb 2010

    what he said. it's very very good.

  15. bkelleher 14 Feb 2010

    One of the triumphant indie albums of the year, I am sure.

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