The Standard hail from Portland, where they began playing shows in 1999. Vocalist/guitarist Tim Putnam, keyboardist Jay Clarke, bassist
RobOberdorfer, and drummer Rob Duncan had known each other from playing in various bands -- and in various styles -- around town, and as
theStandard they incorporated all of that to develop a moody and unpredictable indie rock sound.
A self-titled release appeared through Barbaric in 2001, followed by the Touch & Go release August a year later. The Standard jumped to
YepRoc for the strong 2004 effort Wire Post to Wire, followed by 2005's poppier offering. Albastross. Their latest album, Swimmer, came
outthrough their own imprint, Partisan, in 2008.