Morning Tide

by Tim SendraThe Little Ones' debut EP, 2005's Sing Song, was the kind of bright, sunny indie pop that earned the band comparisons to the Shins -- the peppy and lighthearted sound of the disc was happier than the Shins and had a pleasing spark of originality. Three years on, the band made it through some wrangling and ended up on Chop Shop Records for its debut full-length album, Morning Tide. The label is important in this case because it is helmed by Alexandra Patsavas, the person responsible for providing the music for TV shows like The O.C. and Grey's Anatomy. The Little Ones fit perfectly in that world; the album is glossy, sophisticated, and very atmospheric -- just right for scenes of young lovers falling in and out of love dramatically. The shimmering guitars, big drums, and huge vocal harmonies also point toward the arena-friendly sound of Coldplay and the bands that have followed in their