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Peach Pit’s third and latest album, “From 2 to 3”, is a perfect example of musicianship as it masterfully executes a combination of the band’s influences with their unique sound. It’s distinctly themselves, and built upon their 2 prior albums of infectious indie pop, filled with relatable lyrics and catchy melodies. Yet it takes on a more fundamental role in establishing their sound through more intimate and tactile recording practices, and this is exactly what the band set out to do before recording the album. 

The album was heavily influenced by 1970s rock and folk music, as frontman Neil Smith tells Monday Magazine: “We just decided we wanted to have a very natural-sounding album with not a lot of affected vocals or guitars and if we were going to use effects, we were going to try to use things that were from the 1970s influence of rock ‘n roll.” 

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These influences are perfectly complementary to their previously established indie rock sound. Tracks such as ‘Up Granville’ and ‘Pepsi on the House’ have the energetic aura and riffing guitars which defined their previous albums. Yet the album is especially elevated by tracks such as ‘Vickie’, ‘Look Out!’, and ‘Last Days of Lonesome’, which feature acoustic guitar-driven instrumentals and mellow vocals. The latter two tracks even feature little to no drums or bass guitar, opting to put their lyrics and melodies at the forefront which amplifies the folk-influenced atmosphere. 

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One thing that listeners will pick up on is how noticeably intimate the listening experience is. Not only through tender instrumentals, but with the more subtle conveyance of mature lyrical themes. No song exemplifies this better than the title track, which sees the lead singer, Neil wake up from a dream about his ex-girlfriend. It’s a mellow track with haunting undertones, and serves as a perfect way to cap off the album. What makes the lyrical content so infectious is not only the relatability, but how it feels tactile, dynamic, and right in front of you. These elements are nurtured by Neil’s songwriting habits, as he cites in an interview with Range that he wrote ‘From 2 to 3’ right after actually waking up from his dream, which explains why the imagery it portrays is so fresh and vivid. 

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“From 2 to 3” feels both like a product of skilled musicians, and a bunch of friends jamming together in a tightly organized package. While the album is more bare-bones than their previous efforts– omitting many background sounds that made “You and Your Friends” a progressive album for the genre, it allows them to experiment with sounds and lyrical themes that were previously untapped. And for that, Peach Pit is able to capture the charming essence of indie music while maturing their sound to a more creative and polished state which reflects their growth and talent as musicians.

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