Putting needle to groove and listening to the latest full-length, Proper, from Into It. Over It. feels almost like curling up in your favorite chair with a warm cup of coffee on a cold and gray Sunday morning… or lounging back with your favorite drink after a long week at a shitty job. That’s sometimes just what we all need, right?
Into It. Over It. is essentially the “solo” project of Chicago’s own Evan Weiss and after what seems like a ton of releases including the ambitious 52 Weeks (where he recorded a new song a week for a year), Proper marks what should be considered his first “proper” full-length. It’s a mostly full-band affair that differs from his live show and much of his previous material, but that’s not a bad thing at all. In fact, the added instrumentation and crisp production suit these songs tremendously well. Evan’s vocals are also perfect. I could listen to him sing from now until eternity…
On Proper, Evan and friends take cues from late 90′s indie & emo acts like Hey Mercedes, American Football, DCFC and Elliott but it never sounds even close to thievery or imitation. It’s a testament to the Evan’s skill and talent that Proper sounds a little like a record from a bygone era while also sounding amazingly current. In fact, as much as I love that stuff (and also love easy comparisons) I’ve had a helluva time actually trying to come up with apt descriptions for what Proper actually sounds like.
All my words about this record seem to be wrapped up in how it feels so much more than how it sounds in that whole “dancing about architecture” sort of way. Proper is instantly comfortable and familiar in every way as Into It. Over It. just sort of unwinds these songs as if knitting an aural sweater around the listener.
Regardless of any of the above words I’ve managed to type out all you need to know is that Into It. Over It. has put out a gem of a record here and (any and all hyperbole aside) I could easily recommend this to almost about anyone who likes music. I’m not kidding at all. Proper is available now from No Sleep Records.
MP3: Into It. Over It. – Where Your Nights Often End
This release reminded me a lot of the aforementioned bands, but also death cab’s Photo Album, particularly the track “Connecticut”
I should also mention that Evan also introduced me to the wonderful tacos at Wicker Park’s Big Star. That’s almost as great a thing as his music.
I really like this song. Thanks for sharing it.