Robbers on High Street
Tree City

[New Line; 2005]

Rating: 6.0 8.0

I realize it’s a pointless exercise to take issue with any Pitchfork
review, but I just don’t feel like I can let today’s review of
Robbers On High
Street’s Tree City slide.

Now, I must confess that yes, when I
reviewed their demo back in ‘03, I said, and I quote, “[They come] off like an East Coast
version of Spoon”. My implication, though, was that ROHS sound reminiscent of Spoon;
not that they “stole the tapes from Britt’s house and scribbled their name over his”.
I was suggesting that ROHS were Northern cousins to Daniel’s Lone Star sound, *not* evil twins.

Tree City is a solid record, with a great combo of indie rock grit, hip-bumping groove,
and a surprising pop sensibility. And you’ll be doing yourself a disservice to write it off. Tree City is out
next Tuesday, and I can tell you this: it’s immediately going straight into my recommendations
list.