Denison Witmer hasn’t turned Christian rock, nor has The River Bends as his backing band automatically altered his tender songs. A slightly rockier album.
Beauty Pill have created a sublime journey into poisoned food, stuck-up bands, and girl geniuses through the use of metaphor and unpredictable song structures.
Taking the guitar tweaking of Edward Van Halen and spiking it thru the post-punk herk ‘n’ jerk of those days is using the musical language to full advantange.
Scoville Unit pays homage to the effortlessness of Buddy Holly, the innocence of Simon & Garfunkel, the melancholy of REM, & the fluidity of Belle & Sebastian.
On the debut from Chicago post-punk group The Junior Varsity, the moody pop of old Jimmy Eat World tracks meets the viciously lovelorn lyrics of Alkaline Trio.
The glossy guitars and hand-clapping on The Inevitable Breakups’ debut EP brings to mind hits like “867-5309 Jenny” and “Is She Really Going Out With Him?”