Courtesy of Domino Records.

“Crime‰” was first released on Youtube, ahead of Real Estate‰’s third LP Atlas, as a how-to-play guitar tab music video. Both lead and rhythm guitar parts are tabbed out in a sing-along style video, appealing to their masses of guitar fans.

But while “Crime‰” might sound cheery, the lyrics have a more nervous tone. The opening line, “toss and turn all night / don‰’t know how to make it right / crippling anxiety‰” is a huge departure from the content of their past two LPs. Their last, Days, contained lighthearted tunes like “Easy‰” and “It‰’s Real.‰”

“Crime” represents a change of pace, with Martin Courtney singing, “I don‰’t wanna die lonely and uptight,‰” and Atlas as a whole has a more anxious feeling about real life. Courtney is married now with a baby, and no longer concerned with chilling with the boys and drinking Budweiser Sprites.

Appropriately, the old spacey boyish sound has transformed into a something more catchy and refined. Courtney and lead guitarist Matt Mondandile have perfected their guitar tones and they sound tighter than ever together. Atlas has a crystal clear production and it’s at its best on “Crime,‰” overall an excellent guitar pop song.