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Photo by Thaddeus Ruzicka<\/a><\/p>\n With\u00a0\u2018Gimme 5!\u2019<\/a>\u00a0we take a peek into the collections of artists we admire. The premise is simple: artists WE like share 5 records THEY love.<\/em><\/p>\n You regret the things you didn’t do. It’s not just a beaten-to-death encouragement to those in doubt, there is actual research to support the claim<\/a>. Basically, we are much better in recalling and regretting cases of inaction than action. And not buying the first LP by the LA based, impossible-to-google masters of jangle pop Massage is one example. That record, the 2018 Oh Boy<\/strong><\/a>, is a must add collection piece for any self-respecting fan of underground pop music. It also is impossible to find. Oh Boy<\/strong> is a heartfelt and messy record filled with pop gems inspired by The Feelies, the Go-Betweens,\u00a0 and Twerps. Massage founder singer\/guitarist Andrew Romano, calls Oh Boy<\/strong> an “anti-ambitious” record: \u201cNothing kills the kind of music we want to make faster than the sense that a band is trying too hard.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, three years later, the band returns with their follow-up record. It’s called Still Life<\/strong> and it sounds less messy, more produced, and more deliberate without losing the charm and sincerity of their debut. There is a warmth, vulnerability and delicateness to the music of Still Life<\/strong>\u00a0that, in combination with the band’s songwriting chops, gives these songs that little extra that helps to distinguish a lovable record from a likeable record. This may stem from the band’s strong intragroup connection: Massage is a collective of friends, inlaws and spouses. Anyhow, these qualities are on full display in two of the album’s early singles Made Of Moods<\/em> (embedded below) and Half A Feeling<\/em><\/a>. Slumberland Records already gave the record its stamp of approval,<\/a> and that isn’t even the band’s record label. Mt. St. Mtn.<\/a> (US), Tear Jerk<\/a> (AUS\/NZ) and Bobo Integral Records<\/a> (EU) will co-release Still Life<\/strong>\u00a0on July 2nd. Don’t sit on this one, like I did with the band’s Oh Boy<\/strong>. I have no doubt Still Life <\/strong>will end up in many AOTY lists.<\/p>\n Below, the band discusses some of their influences for Still Life<\/strong>. As you’ll discover, Massage is a band that not only loves creating the best underground pop imaginable, they also love obsessing about other bands from the genre.<\/p>\n