Kori Gardner (keyboard/vocals) and Jason Hammel (drums/vocals) formed Mates of State in 1997, rooting their sound in minimalist pop with dual vocal harmonies. Omnibus Records released Mates of State's first EP as a split with Fighter D in 1999. The duo's second EP, It's the Law/Invitation Inn, and a debut album, My Solo Project, followed in 2000. Hammel and Gardner married the next year and inked a deal with Polyvinyl, where they released Our Constant Concern (2002), Team Boo (2003), and the All Day EP (2004). After heading to Barsuk, they released Bring It Back (2006) and Re-Arrange Us (2008). Crushes: The Covers Mixtape arrived two years later, with Mountaintops released in 2011. ~ Mike DaRonco