Real Estate
The Wee Small Hours: B-Sides and Other Detritus 2011-2025
Domino [2025]
“A mellow deep-dive that proves their bench strength and lasting charm.”
Album Overview: Formed in Ridgewood, New Jersey in the late 2000s, Real Estate made their name with warm guitar interplay, laid-back vocals, and reflective songwriting. Led by Martin Courtney, the band came out of the suburban DIY scene and quickly became one of the most consistent voices in indie rock. Since signing with Domino in 2011, they’ve released six albums that gradually refined their breezy, melodic style. Lineups may have changed, but Real Estate’s mellow core has stayed intact.
The Wee Small Hours: B-Sides and Other Detritus 2011–2025 pulls together rare tracks, outtakes, and covers from their time on Domino, offering a fuller picture of the band’s quieter corners. Rather than a scattered odds-and-ends collection, this one flows surprisingly well. From early deep cuts to recent curiosities, it plays like a low-key companion piece to their main discography.
Musical Style: These songs feel right at home in Real Estate’s universe—clean guitars, gently rolling rhythms, and hooks that sneak up on you. Whether it’s the soft shimmer of “Pink Sky” or the wistful drift of “Blue Lebaron,” there’s a calm consistency here. Even the covers—of The Strokes, Television, Elton John, and The Nerves—get the Real Estate treatment: softened edges, dreamy tones, and no forced flash.
Evolution of Sound: While their most recent full-length Daniel leaned on studio sheen and broader collaboration, The Wee Small Hours provides an alternate view—less refined, more instinctive. These tracks showcase the band working in a looser space, experimenting without pressure. It’s not a reinvention, but rather a parallel path—highlighting songs that didn’t quite fit on past albums yet still carry the Real Estate DNA.
Artists with Similar Fire: If you enjoy The Clientele, Luna, The Feelies, or early Yo La Tengo, you’ll hear a similar delivery here. There’s also overlap with jangle-pop and dreamier acts like The Ocean Blue, Nap Eyes, Ultimate Painting, and Smith Westerns. Anyone drawn to bands that prize texture, mood, and quiet confidence will find plenty to like.
Pivotal Tracks: “Pink Sky” opens the collection with a breezy, psychedelic sway that sets the tone. “Two Part” feels like an Atlas-era outtake in the best way—easygoing and clear-headed. The Elton John cover “Daniel” strips things back to the emotional bones, while “In My Car” delivers early-career charm with its unpolished delivery and flexi-disc roots. Their version of “Barely Legal” takes The Strokes’ gritty original and melts it into a softer, shinier shape. None of these tracks are game-changers, but they’re all pleasant detours.
Lyrical Strength: Martin Courtney continues to write about the small stuff—quiet mornings, familiar neighborhoods, that vague ache of nostalgia. His lyrics don’t demand your attention, but they reward close listening. Even in these lesser-known tracks, there’s a thread of calm introspection that gives them unexpected weight.
Final Groove: The Wee Small Hours isn’t essential listening, but it’s a solid, satisfying bonus round for longtime fans. The band’s signature charm and melodic ease are present throughout, even if these tracks never fully break from the mold. For completists, it’s a treat; for newcomers, it’s a glimpse into the margins. Either way, it’s another reminder of how Real Estate has quietly become indie rock lifers. With a catalog this deep, even their detritus shines in the right light—and that bodes well for whatever they do next.
REAL ESTATE REVIEW HISTORY
Daniel (2024) / In Mind (2017) / Atlas (2014) / Days (2011) / Reality EP (2010) / Real Estate (2009)
MARTIN COURTNEY REVIEW HISTORY
Magic Sign (2022) / Many Moons (2015)
REAL ESTATE LINKS
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Domino
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