We Are the Tide

Released in 2011, We Are the Tide is the sophomore effort from Portland-based Blind Pilot. Following the success of their debut, 3 Rounds and a Sound, this album represents a significant expansion in their sonic palette, moving from a duo to a fully realized six-piece ensemble. This transition allowed for the inclusion of more complex arrangements, featuring prominent trumpet, vibraphone, and upright bass, which have since become the band's hallmarks. Recorded at Type Foundry in Portland, the album captures a specific 'Northwest Folk' aesthetic that was peaking in the early 2010s. Critically, it was hailed as a benchmark of the genre, with AllMusic praising its faultless songwriting. The album's success on the Billboard Folk and Rock charts solidified Blind Pilot as a central figure in the indie-folk revival, blending Americana roots with a pop-sensible melodicism that remains timeless.