Red Stars Theory

The Washington State duo at the heart of Red Stars Theory consisted of James Bertram, who handled guitar and vocals while also performing in 764-Hero, alongside drummer Jeremiah Green during his stint with Modest Mouse. Drawing from the approach of those other projects, the pair fused propulsive guitar work with intense singing to create emotionally charged indie rock, though their first album from 1997, But Sleep Came Slowly, incorporated extended atmospheric sections reminiscent of slowcore acts such as Codeine along with symphonic elements. Issued on Touch & Go in 1999, Life In A Bubble Can Be Beautiful presented a more subdued take on the group's expressive style and included contributions from notable indie figures including Lois Maffeo. One year afterward came their self-titled follow-up record.