3 out of 5
Label: Comedy Minus One
Produced by: Mason Pitzel (recorded and mixed by)
10+ years back, These Estates dropped ‘The Dignity of Man,’ a gloriously eager update of the Silkworm sound, almost heartily mimicking that band’s earthy vocals and ability to flip between Rolling Stones rootsiness and carved-from-stone guitar freakouts. However, this wasn’t just mimicry done well: while a soundalike singer and adaptation of a particular kick-drum beat and bobbing hook feels unavoidably Silkworm-ish to an extent that can’t be happenstance, These Estates managed to wrap that core in a punkish edge and incredibly poetic lyrics – countering SKWM’s working-man vibes – that flavored the music so particularly as to make it the band’s own. Fittingly, Comedy Minus One helped draw my attention to the band with a digital re-release of ‘Dignity,’ and then I got down to waiting for what was next.
A decade on in band time was like a year for me – between the CMO release and the “now” of this review – until followup ‘Western Developments’ was released. That actual time elapsed feels very important for identifying what’s different here, as ‘Developments’ absolutely shares in the same strengths as ‘Dignity,’ but it’s a bit more… aged. Eagerness has become comfort; insightful love songs and a cover image that was suggestive of some pared down willful Man of the album title has become songs commenting – hopefully, wistfully – on the stultified state of the 2026 world, its cover image of a dilapidated construction a witty wink at this album’s title. And the music, and the band producing it, now straddles two worlds instead of gleefully combining them: the overall tone and approach here is very much of the edge-d jangle of Silkworm’s Firewater, albeit still with These Estates lean towards pop hooks making each track damned catchy, but the other world no longer fits as well: John Cameron strains to add shouts where singing will do; the group cranks up the volume sort of discordantly at points, unnecessarily trying to boost a rawness that’s not as inherent in the tunes.
‘Dignity’ was released in a slew of activity from the band: several EPs / albums over the course of 5 years. Then a pause, with a covers album preceding ‘Western Developments.’ I can make up a narrative to match that, which results in that covers album sparking a need to write new material again, but there’s more band history and – during those 10 intervening years – presumably some heavy-hitting life experience from which to draw. It can take a while to process that into something more organic; ‘Developments’ has a slight forced quality to it, like the band couldn’t decide how much to do the Silkworm thing, or how much to embrace pessimism versus optimism. Thankfully, all the songwriting skills are still very much there, and the band can’t really write an uncatchy tune. But: I hope they stick it out for another release to find a new balance between all their influences and learnings to match the enthused and more naturalistic vibes of their previous album.
