The Standard

The Standard is an American indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed by four musicians with different backgrounds and influences. The group consists of drummer Rob Duncan, bassist Rob Oberdorfer, keyboard player Jay Clarke and guitarist and songwriter Tim Putnam. Duncan brings punk rhythms shaped by Portland indie bands, Oberdorfer comes from art-rock experiments, Clarke combines classical and jazz study with an interest in ambient music, and Putnam contributes roots-influenced songwriting and melodic guitar riffs.

Style and early reputation

The band’s music combines unusual chord changes, sudden tempo shifts, keyboard passages, guitar hooks and vocals that move between elusive, haunting, intimate and heartbreaking tones. Their early performances in Portland in 1999 draw small crowds, but the band quickly develops a reputation for intense live shows and an approach that is challenging while remaining accessible.

Recordings and albums

Over a five-year period, The Standard release three full-length albums, all recorded with producer and engineer Jeff Saltzman. These recordings show increasing maturity and complexity, and they earn critical praise and a loyal audience. The band also gains respect from artists it supports on tour, including Wire, The Shins, The Clinic, Slint and Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.

Albatross

In October 2004, after eight months on the road, the band returns to Portland to record Albatross. For this album, The Standard changes its method and records the material itself, first in a rented rehearsal space and later in Oberdorfer’s basement. Rather than writing songs fully before recording, the band writes and records at the same time. The songs are direct, introspective and personal, with lyrics that explore hardship and joy, and the music uses clean arrangements and concise melodies while still shifting between delicate, spare passages and more vigorous, energetic sections.

Collaborative approach

The band’s work on Albatross reflects a stronger collaborative dynamic developed through prolonged time spent living, working and touring together. Tim Putnam describes the aim of the album as capturing how much the group enjoys playing together, and the record marks a clear stage in the band’s development.