The Babies’ songs are roughed-up jewels cut from the same cloth as Hazlewood and Sinatra, The Velvet Underground and Nico, Pisces and Linda Bruner, and other dream marriages.

In 2008, Kevin Morby moved into Cassie Ramone’s small apartment in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, for a few months. Morby, who plays bass in Woods, and Ramone, who sings and plays guitar in Vivian Girls, wanted to start a band. They both missed the sweaty loft shows they used to play before their bands moved on to larger venues and longer tours.

Justin Sullivan, who had played with Ramone in Bossy - prior to Flat Worms and Night Shop - began practicing with them on drums, and The Babies debuted as a three-piece in March 2009 at Dead Herring. They played a few times before asking Nathan Stark, formerly of Bent Outta Shape, to join on bass, and the full lineup’s first shows were that summer.

The debut album follows 7-inch singles on Make a Mess and Wild World.