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Lexington, Kentucky’s Ideal Free Distribution amassed a large backlog of material before releasing their first, self-titled album (ultimately released by Happy Happy Birthday to Me, and mixed with help from Robert Schneider of The Apples in Stereo), so it shouldn’t be a big surprise that there’s been a much shorter interval to reach their sophomore album, Then We Were Older. The title could refer to the fact that these songs reflect a band that’s come a significant way since writing the songs on their first album; this is an older, slightly different band. For one thing, Craig Morris has left to pursue Thee American Revolution, although he co-wrote the album’s “single,” “William Buss.” Tony Miller’s vocals still possess a rich, Zombies-esque flavor, and the band continues to mine 60’s psychedelic rock and garage for inspiration on the album’s thirteen tracks (even the cover winks at its retro inspirations), but the IFD also stretches past the three-minute pop song into longer tracks (some well over six minutes) that feel both tight and carefully structured. They’re a headphones band, and this is headphones music for bedroom daydreaming, Brian Wilson style.

Color Wheel Records is releasing Then We Were Older on CD and through iTunes on October 13. You can download “William Buss” below, or pre-order the album at the label’s MySpace (where you can also stream more tracks from the record).

Then We Were Older,
by Ideal Free Distribution
1. Cold Wind Blows
2. Something I Know
3. Carol Anne
4. Turn to Find You
5. Calm Herself
6. William Buss
7. Ride a Bike, Part I
8. Trip Inside
9. Strawberry Crush
10. Anne Maria
11. Ride a Bike, Part II
12. Can’t You See
13. Stars