"Album of the Year" - an ambitious boast, or a heartfelt concept? In the case of the Good Life's recent release, the latter is fortunately true. "Album of the Year" tracks a full year in a couple's lives, month by month.
When the first Good Life album, "Novena on a Nocturn," was released in 2000, it seemed like another songwriting outlet for Tim Kasher, who is also the frontman for Cursive. Four years and two albums later, have people's attitudes changed? Kasher said that many still believe in standard industry protocol.
"People don't do two bands, they do one band and they do side projects," he said in a phone interview.
Meanwhile, he's developed a singular identity as a writer not wedded to a single band.
"It's hard for me to try to rewrite the rules, even though that's kind of my plan," Kasher said.
Even though the songwriting is more collaborative on "Album of the Year," the Good Life is still unmistakably steered by Kasher. Envisioning the record's concept included creating and directing its artwork and design, a task involving various pieces of wood, acrylic paints, photography and time.
While Cursive has always been a more intense project, the Good Life has displayed its emotions in a quieter, more subdued manner. With "Album of the Year," the Good Life has branched out, solidifying their identity apart from their labelmates. The songs are diverse, from the expected laid-back tracks to danceable shout-alongs.
Kasher stresses that he and his bandmates are primarily writers; the band's name is of less importance than the final product: the songs.
"We want to make sure we never fall into anything too genre-specific," Kasher said. "We'd like to maintain as much freedom as possible to play any style. To just be writers in that sense."
The Good Life comes from the notable Omaha, Neb., music scene. The Omaha scene centers around independent label Saddle Creek Records, home to Bright Eyes, the Faint and (formerly) Rilo Kiley, in addition to Cursive and the Good Life.
Kasher views the close, collaborative nature of the Omaha scene as positive and beneficial to its members.
"It can be considered too scene-specific and too much of a fad, and that can be really dangerous," said Kasher about Saddle Creek Records.
While he enjoys going back to Omaha on brief respites between tours - something he likens to college students going home for the holidays - he wouldn't mind moving elsewhere.
"I don't think at this point any of us have to live in Omaha for us to keep going," Kasher said. "It's not the city, it's just the people."
This Friday, the Good Life's tour takes them to New York City, where they will play with several labelmates as part of the Saddle Creek College Media Journal Conference showcase. While such affairs tend to cater to music industry personnel rather than non-industry fans, Kasher points to the camaraderie of the bands involved as a highlight.
"I can only see it as positive, just because I'm playing with friends," he said. "And it gives me an opportunity to see the Faint's show, which I wouldn't have gotten to otherwise"
