While a name like Tennis might be entirely random, it’s a perfect fit for Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley’s indie pop project. The game of tennis is highly aestheticized, evoking images of pristine lawns, country clubs and pastel athleisure. Tennis has a similar commitment to aesthetics: band members and life partners each sport a unique sense of vintage-inspired fashion, with Moore often sporting tight, bouncy curls reminiscent of youth culture of yesteryear . Especially in the early days of Tennis, their sonic palette drew inspiration from earlier pop eras, recontextualizing the sounds of the 60s in particular for 21st century vibes. As original as their compositions are, they possess an instant familiarity that charms, and even as Tennis has extended their performances deeper into contemporary rock and pop, their charm has remained as strong as ever.
On their sixth LP, Pollen, Tennis displays her talent for dance pop, showcasing synths and bass that recall visions of nightclubs that are more modern than old-fashioned. While the duo isn’t completely straying from their retro roots or wealth-signifying clichés, Pollen shows that the band are well aware of the vast territory of the music and are excited to expand their sound once again. Over the years, Tennis has risen to the occasion on jangle, dance pop, rock, blues and more, always delivering their own spin on the classics. To celebrate Tennis’ return, we’ve revisited their brilliant discography and listed 10 favorite songs from their indie-pop canon.
10. “Sailor” (2011)
From the first moment we met Tennis, their vintage charm was at the forefront. On “Seafarer” and throughout their debut album Cape Dorythe duo took inspiration from ’60s pop to deliver emotionally multi-dimensional cuts inspired by the couple’s year-long stint cruising the east coast. Cape Dory isn’t painfully nautical, but the sunny backdrop of sailboats and beaches makes for a compelling visual palette on which Tennis displays melancholy, anxiety, and heartbreak. “Seafarer” is the most exceptional of Cape Dory, with Alaina Moore throwing herself at her sailor lover with everything that looks good until cracks emerge. Before finding accommodation on Cape Dorythe demo version of the track was released on Myspace in 2010, tempting fans of the indie-pop newcomers and remaining a fan favorite.
9. “Deep in the Woods” (2011)
Entering smoothly with piano and tambourine, “Deep In The Woods” is a wordy pop adventure with swing. The rhythmic blend of keys and vocals gives Moore’s lyrics a percussive quality as they meander like a lost hiker about to discover something sinister. References to buried love, characters glowing in the distance or charging specters reinforce the bewitching mystery of the piece. Originally released as a 7″ with the fan favorite “Origins”, “Deep in the Woods” eventually became a bonus track on the duo’s second LP, Young and old.
8. “Late Night” (2020)
Like many of the most emotional musicians, Alaina Moore carries some misgivings from her years in organized religion. As she grew into a woman, Moore couldn’t help but focus on how preachers wanted her to aspire to a Mary Magdalene-like role in the world. As multifaceted as the figure of Mary Magdalene is, preachers in Moore’s life specifically cite her total submission to the service of Jesus. While preachers encouraged the men around her to take charge, why should she even aspire to submit? On “Late Night,” featured in the 2020s Swimmerthe arrangement is anything but submissive, with bold, enchanting swirls of music that support Moore’s efforts to reframe her femininity.
7. “Never Work for Free” (2014)
“Never Work for Free,” from 2014 Ritual in repetition, is less of a union anthem than an exploration of Moore’s approach to love and marriage. Perhaps expected of bands made up of married couples, several Tennis songs are about marriage, and many musicians have tried and failed to depict their love without alienating listeners. “Never work for free” is, however, exceptional. The upbeat, danceable pop style reminiscent of HAIM is immediately catchy, with consistent drums providing a brilliant foundation while synths, guitars and syncopated vocals make the song the perfect earworm.
6. “In the morning I will be better” (2016)
In the early days of tennis, Alaina Moore stayed in a modest vocal range (think the chorus of “Take Me Somewhere”), letting the lyrics and tinkling instruments do most of the work. As successful as that formula has proven, Moore has a brilliant range, and after discovering that Patrick’s close friend was terminally ill, Moore let her voice spill out on a song that she hoped would help ease the devastation. “In the Morning I’ll Be Better” features the memorable chorus: “I’ll write a hymn again (I’ll write a hymn again)/I’ll be your wife/Keep believing in/Our healing” , featuring Moore providing angelic echoes to his own professions.
5. “Runner” (2019)
Rhythmically complex and sonically delicate, “Runner” is a particularly standout track that, upon its initial release, seemed like a turning point for the indie-pop duo. Although the band has undoubtedly become more experimental since their Cape Dory At the time, “Runner” elevated the band’s songwriting with distinctive vocal cadences and layers of dreamy pop that sounded as ethereal as Beach House but as empowering as CHVRCHES. Moore’s attraction to the divine comes from his Christian upbringing; she grew up at home in an evangelical tradition, with conservative prohibitions that sometimes made Moore feel trapped despite the support and inspiration that often reverberated through communities of faith. She works through the conflicting meanings she has of herself with those passed to her in the church, struggling to overcome the tension but displaying the value of following these lines.
4. “Dimming Light” (2013)
On the band’s 2013 EP Dim light, Tennis moved from its collaboration with Patrick Carney to Richard Swift, a fellow musician whose idiosyncrasies match the duo’s often narrative-heavy tracks. On “Dimming Light,” the band and Swift work in tandem to generate a track that begins with a lilting guitar riff and range in a stomper with a chorus brilliantly layered with an iridescent piano base. As Moore croons about the budding love she feels bubbling but slightly questions, the delicately sandwiched layers of synths, keys, and percussion give the track a sense of weight and impact despite its early beginnings. dream.
3. “Let’s Make a Mistake Tonight” (2023)
On their brand new LP Pollen, Tennis plays a lot with pop, mixing vintage and contemporary with tools not yet deployed on previous records. On “Let’s Make A Mistake Tonight,” gentle disco is the ascending sonic palette they draw from to create a song that is above all appealing. While the suggestive title suggests it’s all about tonight, Moore’s lyrics about leaving and forging a new path for herself and her counterpart suggest aspiration. The bass and drum beat give the track a club feel that adds a Magdalena Bay-like mystique that’s rare on the tennis courts. It suits them well.
2. “Origins” (2011)
Fresh from the buzz of Cape Dory, fans and critics wondered whether Tennis would remain tied to its ambivalent Sunshine Pop origins. The story of a husband and wife group going sailing and finding inspiration for an album was too ambitious to forget, even if it inspired envy or made some cringe. When Tennis returned with “Origins,” a fuzz-pop guitar track that took on the particulars of the Christian origin story, the duo proved themselves to be a group capable of merging gravitas and creativity. Moore’s powerful vocals and Riley’s memorable guitar playing combine into a brilliant independent work.
1. “Need Your Love” (2020)
Entered with pounding drums and percussive keys, “Need Your Love” doesn’t come in as easily as the typical tennis track. THE Swimmer This remarkable track speaks from a place of anger, where emotional pressure is high and demands explosive energy. The tempo fluctuates as does the ebb and flow of extreme emotions inspired by love and conflict, guiding the listener on a journey of true complexity and strength. It’s maddening, sensual, groovy and so much more. It sparkles with the same gloss that Tennis knows how to apply. At the time, Moore declared “Need Your Love” as “my favorite song that Patrick and I have written,” and it’s clear to see why: the whimsy, the gravitas, the poise, and the lyrics are deeply funny but truly relevant. This is tennis at its best.
Devon Chodzin is a critic and urban planner with bylines at Sleep magazine, Carousel And Post-Trash. He is currently a student in Philadelphia. He lives on Twitter @bigugly
Watch Tennis perform “Origins” live at Paste Party in Austin during SXSW 2012:
