SoundSpike Song of the Day: "Crystal Vases" by The Last Royals

SoundSpike's Song of the Day for Friday (1/21) is "Crystal Vases" by indie pop-rockers The Last Royals, off their eponymous EP, which came out in November on Ooh La La Records.

The royal court in question is comprised of Eric James (writer/singer/producer) and Mason Ingram (multi-instrumentalist), who met up after James dissolved his solo act, The Early Hours. "The songs that appear on [the album] re-imagine tracks originally penned for The Early Hours," James said in a press release. "The Last Royals were born from life's drudgery, from the soaring highs and bottomed-out lows of daily urban existence."

An enthusiastic ode to smoking oneself to death in a lonely "Park Avenue apartment" after being dumped, "Crystal Vases" is certainly in keeping with the band's commitment to chronicling life's crappier moments. The listener would have to make a point of tracking the lyrics to remember that this is a depressing song, however, as the sound is actually quite rousing and fun, with jangly guitar, fuzzed-out effects and James' downright charismatic voice. Anyone who likes Cake or The Strokes will love this band.

To download the mp3 of "Crystal Vases," right-click on the hyperlinked song title above. The Last Royals are in the midst of a small East Coast run, hitting Philadelphia's North Star Bar Jan. 25, Musica in Akron, OH, Jan. 28; and the University of Pittsburgh (Northway) in Pittsburgh, PA, Jan. 28. For more on The Last Royals, check out the band's website or Facebook page.