“Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate)” has got to be one of the all-time strangest band names I have ever encountered. First of all, it’s seven words long. Seven. Secondly, not only does it incorporate punctuation, the name includes different kinds – both exclamation points and parenthesis. It makes me wonder what their fans call them. Maybe just “Empire! Empire!”? (But then do you have to say it with a raised voice?) Or what about “E.E.I.W.A.L.E.”?

But in any case, the Michigan-based quartet Empire! Empire! (as I will refer to them henceforth) has released a 7 inch vinyl with two tracks called “Year of the Rabbit” and “Idk, My BFF Jill” that creates interest for their new album to be released on September 29.

The group’s sound (seen on these two tracks anyway) is low-key, mellow and almost-emo in terms of pure earnestness. It is tightly produced but in a way that still sounds very indie. Keith Latinen’s vocals are quite high and also just breathy enough to complement the band’s soft, calm sound.

Empire! Empire! is definitely for fans of Death Cab for Cutie and Minus the Bear. It should be interesting to see what they do on their new full-length, What it Takes to Move Forward, because two songs isn’t a whole lot to go on. But you’ve got to give them a few cool points for releasing a 7 inch vinyl in the first place.