This record has been on constant rotation since I got my hands on it. Miniature Tigers have taken their straight forward indie pop sound to the next level with F O R T R E S S and I can’t get enough. These guys have come a long way from Tell It To The Volcano, and the future is looking very bright.
F O R T R E S S was produced by The Morning Benders’ Chris Chu, except for “Gold Skull”. It was produced by Alan Palomo whose better known as the brains behind Neon Indian. You can easily tell that these two had their hands all over this record, but it’s 100% Charlie Brand and company that gives this record that signature Miniature Tigers sound.
“Mansion of Misery” starts of the album with a twinkling percussion sound and Brand’s voice, followed by the rest of the instruments joining in to complete a bright pop sound. From there our journey through this album ends up with the drum heavy “Rock ‘n’ Roll Mountain Troll” and then on to “Dark Tower”, which is my favorite song on the entire album.
“Dark Tower” is such a heartbreaking, yet beautiful song that I could literally listen to all day without getting tired of hearing. The chorus, which goes “Living in a dark tower, getting darker by the hour/ Will I wake up from a dark, dark daydream/ Nothing can wake me from myself/ Not you, or no one else”, makes this track so painfully intriguing. It’s gorgeous.
It easy to dance straight through the next two tracks, “Egyptian Robe” and “Japanese Woman Living In My Closet”. And then end up at “Tropical Birds” that has a very classic Miniature Tigers sound and is comparable to the tracks on their debut album, Tell It To The Volcano.
“Lolita” is next and it begins with lovely piano line, which carries us all the way to “Coyote Enchantment”, the final song on the album. It begins with female vocals chanting ‘coyote’. It’s a nice surprise ending this record. The song has an interesting drum beat and guitar riffs that really make it stand out and very unforgettable. If you don’t find yourself moving to this track, then there’s probably something wrong with you.
For me, the only problem I have with this album is that it ends, but luckily F O R T R E S S never gets boring. Even if you listen to it too many times to count. Each time I listen to it I find a new song or a new part in a song to love.

F O R T R E S S is out now on Modern Art Records. It’s available on CD and LP.
You can catch Miniature Tigers on their headlining tour right now with The Spinto Band. ATLiens you all will have an opportunity to see them twice in one day on Friday, August 20. First they’ll be doing an in-store show at Criminal Records at 6:00 pm and then later that night, they’ll do a full set at Star Bar. And they’ll be back to Georgia supporting Neon Indian’s fall tour at the 40 Watt in Athens, GA on Saturday, October 9.