Music

Power of Three

Treasure State Do the Math

by Dave Segal

Treasure State make intelligently crafted rock music. Sure, that's not a very glamorous or controversial thing to do, but these days it's as rare in Seattle as a city block without a Starbucks.

Fronted by singer-guitarist Robert Mercer--who's played bass and guitar for Joel RL Phelps' Downer Trio--this Seattle trio purveys tuneful rock that can impress math students without alienating the melody-lovin' masses. On Migration (Woodson Lateral), Treasure State's follow-up to 2002's Retain the Risk, Mercer's voice recalls the earnest, poignant yelp of Superchunk's Mac McCaughan while his guitar wrangling evokes the radiant spangle and circuitous clangor of the late, lamented SST band Slovenly.

Migration glows with subtle instrumental interplay and precision dynamics among Mercer, drummer Mitch Leffler, and bassist Aaron Sheedy. The album's nine concise songs are gimmick- and cliché-free, as well as introspective and emotional without pushing obvious buttons most emo-rock groups ham-fistedly prod with annoying predictability.

"Today Is Persistent" is the album's most ambitious track, flaunting Tortoise-like jazz/postrock chops, an indelibly serpentine bass line, and gorgeous shards of guitar jangle.

But the disc's highlight is "Summer of His Youth," one of those intangibly uplifting songs that make you repeatedly hit "Repeat." Treasure State conceives an undulant, heartbreaking chord progression that Stephen Malkmus would give up his books to claim as his own. The tune encapsulates Treasure State's music: poetry in unpredictable (e)motion.

segal@thestranger.com

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