The Lodger

Though originating in 2004, the Lodger’s chiming and deliberately unpolished guitar-driven indie pop strikes longtime listeners—those whose tastes predate the Strokes—as a fond throwback to the 1980s and ’90s twee aesthetic. Ben Siddall’s restless, ascending-and-descending guitar figures and his slightly nasal, everyman singing voice carry unmistakable traces of the Wedding Present, the Smiths, Talulah Gosh and its various offshoots, plus countless other kindred acts, with the vocals in particular nodding straight to Dan Treacy of the Television Personalities. The overall fidelity to that earlier era prompted Slumberland Records, a central imprint of the ’90s twee movement, to become the Leeds trio’s American home. Siddall, handling vocals, guitar, and songwriting duties, assembled the group in Leeds alongside bassist Lisa Harker and drummer Bruce Renshaw. After inking a deal with the city’s rising Dance to the Radio label, they issued the 2005 singles “Many Thanks for Your Honest Opinion” and “Watching,” along with contributions to two of its compilations. Ahead of tracking their first full-length, Harker and Renshaw departed; bassist Joe Margetts and drummer Katie James stepped in. The refreshed lineup cut its debut at a Sheffield studio under Arctic Monkeys producer Alan Smyth, reworking the earlier singles for inclusion. Previewed by the singles “Let Her Go” and “Kicking Sand,” Grown-Ups appeared in early summer 2007. With Renshaw restored on drums, the band returned in 2008 with Life Is Sweet, an album that demonstrated marked strides in songcraft. Following the 2009 Elefant EP I Think I Need You, they delivered their third album, Flashbacks, during spring 2010.