Get There

Minor Alps is the work of Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws and The Blake Babies’ Juliana Hatfield. Aside from occasional drumming and programming from Parker Kindred and Chris Egan, the two handle all the instruments and, most importantly, the vocals on Minor Alps' debut album, Get There. Both come from an alt-rock/power pop background, so it’s no surprise when the songs here hinge on hooks and harmonies. “I Don’t Know What to Do with My Hands” is a masterstroke of vibrating guitars and sweet melody. “Far from the Roses” buries its features a bit more with a deliberately dense mix. For space, “If I Wanted Trouble” leaves much of the verses open for moody bass and electric guitars that may remind one of the best days of late-‘80s and early-‘90s indie rock. Acoustic guitars and mellotron emerge on “Maxon,” where Caws and Hatfield harmonize with the natural chemistry of any fabulous duo (or trio) you’d care to name. This is a fruitful collaboration, from the songwriting to the performances.