Maybe These Are the Breaks

Masters of the Hemisphere haven’t put out a record since breaking up shortly after 2002’s Protest of a Dark Anniversary: a jangly pop outing that seemed poised to launch the Atlanta group to alt-rock stardom. Here we are, nine years later, with a regrouping, a tour, and a sturdy collection of radio-friendly tunes. Given that indie bands like Vampire Weekend and Arcade Fire blazed a path to more commercial arenas while MOTH was on hiatus, it would seem like a no-brainer to hear tracks like the breezy, shimmering “Eggshell” or “In the Volcano” next to one of those bands on the radio. Tropical percussion and sunny vocals belie the tale of woe on “Slaughterhouse Island,” and a playful take at country on “Half a Fool” is a better fit than the faux-reggae vibe of “One More Time.” The winsome, airy harmonies of Bren Mead and Sean Rawls sound as easy and natural as vintage pop giants like The Association and Hall & Oates did back in the day. It’s worth getting lost in a time warp while listening to Maybe These Are the Breaks—and some days, that’s just what we need.