Kindling "Everywhere Else" Review

Kindling is no stranger to this blog. The Easthampton, MA shoegaze behemoth is releasing their debut full length Everywhere Else via No Idea Records this Friday, August 12. What's so impressive about Kindling is their ability to take a genre of music where songs and bands can easily start to sound redundant and overused, and make it fresh. They have soaring guitars reminiscent of more post-rock bands, they have heavier riffy parts and constant driving bass like grunge bands, and they have times where the drums seem explosive, fast, and punk. Not to mention the haunting yet soothing vocals of Gretchen Williams and the 90's alt rock vocals of Stephen Pierce. Kindling is like a smorgasbord of grunge, shoegaze, and dream-pop, and it's so good!

Songs like the opener "Coma" and "Blinding Wave" are perfect examples of the soaring guitar shoegaze vibe mixed with the 90's alt rock vibe the band is absolutely nailing. The songs are dense and there's a lot there, but they aren't claustrophobic like some shoegaze acts. Then there are tracks like "Black Eye" and "Other Times" that are more heavy on the grunge side of things. Riffs, and hard hitting drums and bass, giving the record a nice contrast but one that isn't overly stark or out of place.

"Became" for me is the piece de resistance. I think it's the culmination of everything the record presents. Layers of heavy guitar, drum fills and steady moving bass, perfect vocals sitting just beyond full clarity, and high singing guitars. This is it.

Everywhere Else has the ability to play through and feel concise like a solid unit of work, but its individual tracks are dynamic and original, and can stand out on their own as well as within the whole. The record plays through so well, but the individual tracks have their own weight to them. They carry enough within them to stand on their own. I think this is what makes a perfect record. One that can play through as one solid piece of work, but can be looked back upon and specific pieces can be picked out. I think what I'm trying to say is: This record is really fucking good.

Kindling are playing two record release shows this week.
Stream the whole record on Spin.
Pre-order Everywhere Else from No Idea or go to a show and get it!

Kindling "Weightlessly" Track Review

...And I'm back.

Exciting, but not as exciting as Kindling releasing their new full length Everywhere Else, on No Idea Records this August.

"Weightlessly" was premiered on Stereogum last month, and it rips. The bands wonderful shoegaze roots are still present but move aside a bit for a faster soaring element to the mix. The song rips through a great bass driven and drum bashing opening into a great soaring guitar part to the end. Gretchen Williams' vocals are haunting and soothing at the same time. Glowing yet buried. Wonderful and wonderful.

Everywhere Else record release show is August 11 at Great Scott in Allston, MA with California X, Happy Diving, Kestrels, and Dirt Devil.

Stream "Weightlessly" here!

Kindling "Galaxies" Review

I've been meaning to do this write-up for a while now. I love this record. Kindling is this noisey shoegaze band out of Western MA featuring Andy and Stephen of Ampere fame. The band blends elements of 90's grunge with think and sometimes cosmic shoegaze parts. This baby was released on the legendary No Idea Records, too. So good!

The record opens with probably my favorite track "Blinding Wave." There is this great driving bass / guitar riff that kills. When we get to the chorus part the guitar takes on this cosmic swirl that compliments the vocals so well. I love the vocals. This song moves. It kicks in right away and it's so steady and thumping throughout. I get a heavy 90's influenced grunge thing. Like if Pearl Jam had a female singer and played dirtier, or something. Oh, and towards the end where it sounds like its over with these rad spaced out hits, and it kicks back in to that opening part, yes!

"While Away" is slower and more grungy and fuzzed out. The opening is so nice. Drawn out and then the songs kicks in. Guitars are soaring again. I love that. The riffs are so cool. They are muffled and fuzzy but stand out so well among the murk. This song has some great stand out parts. They are all like small little transition fills or riffs and only happen once. It's like a whole bunch of little surprises. Andy's drumming is on point.

"Painkiller" has that nice feedback opener and then into heavy shoegaze heaven. Such a headbanger. Jamming out in the front row, pushed up against the kick drum just banging away. These songs all feel like they should be played in a film. Maybe Lost In Translation. I can picture this one during the end where Bill Murray is driving away before the credits. The chorus part in this one is so good! I get a Sunny Day Real Estate vibe and I want to watch Pete and Pete. Man, I need to see this band live. This is tied for my favorite track. They lay on that last part for a good while. Perfect amount of time and the end is so rad!

The record closes with the shortest track "Coastal." Straight forward, such great drum fills, and heavy riffs. This one needs a few listens. The vocals here too! Nevermind what I said about favorite tracks, They are all too good. This is a great ender track though and the fact that this is a 4 song 12" ep just means you need to spin it a few times!

See this band when you can.
Grab the record from No Idea!
Stream here.
Look for a full length!