Chemistry is the key driving force of so many truly great bands and for Texas-based indie-rock band  The Western Civilization, that creative connection has helped them past odds that would seem insurmountable to most. The result is captivating, well-crafted music. The heartfelt quality of their brand of noisy indie-pop, combined with the intertwined vocals of Hansbro and O’Farrell, creates a sound that fans of Arcade Fire, Bright Eyes, and Broken Social Scene will gobble up with fervor.

Reggie O’Farrell and Rachel Hansbro met while in separate bands and their creative partnership would go on to produce two albums, multiple festival appearances, and most importantly, a lasting artistic union that would survive the two living in separate cities, career changes, a major medical episode, and one very cramped tour.

The band’s new album, Fractions of a Whole (out today) reveals a new maturity to their music with a more lush-sounding production style and a focus on cohesive, graceful songcraft over the endearingly quirky elements that dominated their earlier work. The songs, while beautifully gut-wrenching, still hold on to the hope of the light at the end of the tunnel with songwriting that brings to mind a more lyrically biting Death Cab For Cutie or The Shins and Modest Mouse’s finer moments.

Of their unique relationship, it’s clear what drives the pair to stay dedicated to the band, despite the fact that O’Farrell lives in Austin where he finds more work as a producer and sound engineer and Hansbro resides in Houston where she works as a music teacher working with nonprofits: mutual respect, belief in their music and the way they inspire each other. “I know she trusts me and it frees me to try anything, he explains. And of O’Farrell, Hasbro says, “I trust few things in life, but I trust him.”

Ghettoblaster asked the band to provide a list of their favorite songs about friendship in celebration of Fractions’ release. This is what they chose.

O’Farrell’s picks:

Flaming Lips, “Do You Realize?”

Just one of my favorite songs period, really. Every time I hear this song it just reminds me to cherish all of the moments I get with the lovely people in my life. 

Big Red Machine, “I Won’t Run From It”

This song always reminds me of that feeling of having a close friend that’s in the shit that you’re really rooting for. 

The Head And The Heart, “Rivers and Roads”

I just have so many great friends that are spread all over the place at this point. The kind that you can not see for years and then feel right at home as soon as you see them again. I miss all of them a lot and the vibe and lyrics of this song always conjure up that feeling. One of those people, Josiah Johnson, is one of the writers on this song!

Hansbro’s picks:

Fleetwood Mac, “Dreams”

I lost a very close friend. He was like a father to me. He was a mentor, he loved music and was a fantastic bassist. When he first was going through cancer, we would sing this song together, on the phone to cheer one another up. When we moved him into hospice care, I sang it to him. And even though he was comatose he still squeezed my hand during the chorus. He had told me that any time I ever saw the color yellow, or heard “dreams” to know he was sending me a signal from beyond, that he was thinking of us. It not only reminds me of how wonderful Charlie was, but how much he took care of me, and all the other goofballs that worked at Guitar Center at that time. So now even some of the old employees there and I will shoot each other a text if we hear the song, or if the moon is a “Full Charlie.” That song will always have a special place in all of our hearts. 

The Front Bottoms, “Twin Size Mattress”

There is a line in the song that talks about finding something for the friend to do on stage, “maybe shake a Tambourine or when I sing you sing harmony” And I think it specifically reminds me of the first start of the Western Civilization. Where friends and chosen family would hop on stage at the end of the set and sing our folk-ed out version of “I will survive” as some sort of early ’00s battle cry of our collective young adulthood. We would have spare shakers and tambourines available and friends would stomp, clap and shout along with our song “the sun will rise” It felt like a revival. It felt like we were all shaking our fists in the air to revolt against everything and anything. The song “Twin Size Mattress” captures that special memory somehow. It reminds me of good friends and laughter and a freeness that I think on fondly. 

The Get Up Kids, “Campfire Kansas”

“We stay afloat and make the most of everything”…Reminds me of my first real band / project PSJ. Those boys were the best idiots I knew, and we would sit around a lot of camp fires, and enjoy a lot of long talks on the banks. I always felt accepted, safe and lighter with those dummies and I think I was listening to A LOT of TGUK at that time. Mostly just nostalgia.

Photo by Jack Potts